A Campylobacter outbreak has been reported in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Routine disease surveillance has found at least six illnesses linked to consumption of raw dairy products from the Dennis Jaloszynski dairy farm near Cambridge, Minnnesota. The illnesses include three people with laboratory confirmed cases of Campylobacter jejuni. Health care providers reported the illness to public health authorities as required under Minnesota law.
The ill persons reported that they had consumed raw milk from the Jaloszynski Farm. Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials visited the farm to get a customer list, but the owner did not have one. Health officials are therefore advising anyone who may have purchased or received raw milk from this farm not to drink it. Throw it away. Trisha Robinson, a foodborne illness epidemiologist with MDH said, “we’re concerned that people may be continuing to get sick after consuming products from this farm.”
She continued, “while we are very concerned about the illnesses associated with this farm, this is also about the inherent risk for foodborne illness from any raw milk consumption. Drinking raw milk or eating products made from raw milk can expose you to a variety of pathogens that can result in anything from a few days of diarrhea to kidney failure and death. People need to think carefully about those risks before consuming raw dairy products from any source, and people need to know that the risks are especially high for young children.”
Symptoms of a Campylobacter infection include fever, diarrhea, which is sometimes bloody, abdominal pain, malaise, and vomiting. The symptoms usually begin 2-5 days after eating the contaminated food. People are usually sick for 1-3 weeks with this bacterial infection. A Campylobacter infection can cause arthritis and Guillain Barré syndrome, which causes paralysis.
