Raw milk and E.coli are making a sad combination in Missouri for the second time in 10 months. Locally produced, raw milk products are the suspected source of an E.coli outbreak in Missouri that has sickened several people.
In late March, 2012 an E.coli outbreak linked to raw milk produced by Stroupe Farm in Howard County sickened 14 people in six Missouri counties: Boone, Callaway, Cooper, Howard, Jackson and Marion. Case patients ranged in the in age from 1 to 39, a toddler was hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious, sometimes fatal condition that develops with some E. coli infections. The current outbreak has affected residents in the northwest part of the state, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.
E.coli infections are the leading cause of HUS. More than 90 percent of all HUS cases stem from E. coli infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Small children are the most likely age group to develop HUS, which can cause kidney failure. Treatment options include fluid replacement, dialysis and blood transfusions.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramping and diarrhea which is often watery or bloody. Symptoms usually develop three to four days after exposure. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a health care provider.
