The California Department of Public Health is continuing to investigate possible Campylobacter outbreaks in areas of the state where consumption of raw milk products may have occurred. But meanwhile, state officials have lifted a quarantine at the Panoche, California, dairy farm where Campylobacter was found in raw cream.
State-licensed Claravale Farm recalled raw whole milk, raw skim milk and raw cream last week in connection with the food poisoning investigation. Claravale’s retail distribution area consists of 10 independent retail outlets around the greater Santa Cruz, Soquel and Monterey areas.
State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford lifted the quarantine, saying: “Claravale Farm has met state sanitation requirements and food safety regulations to clear its production, processing and packaging operations.”
Symptoms of Campylobacter infection include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Most people with campylobacteriosis recover completely. Illness usually occurs 2 to 5 days after exposure to the pathogen and lasts about a week. The illness is usually mild and some people with campylobacteriosis have no symptoms at all. However, in some persons with compromised immune systems, it can cause a serious, life-threatening condition known at Gullain-Barre’ Syndrome.
