The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting that the number of people sickened by Campylobacter associated with raw milk from Shankstead Ecofarm in Franklin County has risen to 20.
There are now 16 confirmed cases in Pennsylvania, and 4 confirmed cases in Maryland.
The farm has voluntarily stopped production of raw milk until testing is complete. A formal recall has not been announced, but officials say anyone who bought the milk after January 1, 2012 should discard it. Raw milk for sale must be labeled with a warning about possible health risks.
Campylobacteriosis, the infection caused by Campylobacter, is usually caused by consuming contaminated water, raw milk, undercooked poultry, or from cross-contamination. Complications from campylobacteriosis include Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which can lead to paralysis and respiratory failure, reactive arthritis, appendicitis, and infection of major organs.
