A raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Oklahoma that has sickened ten people is linked to Swan Bros. Dairy, which is located in Claremore. The dairy is recalling its raw milk products, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. Officials found Campylobacter jejuni in the products. The recalled items are: raw whole milk, raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream. They were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallon, and pints directly from the dairy. The milk was sold between April 9, 2020, and June 22, 2020. Raw milk has not been pasteurized, which is a process of briefly heating the milk to destroy pathogens. Because a cow's udders are so close to her anus, milk can be contaminated with many different pathogens, including Campylobacter, E. coli, … [Read more...]
Wild Ginger Restaurant Campylobacter Outbreak in Cortland, NY
The Cortland County Health Department has announced a Wild Ginger restaurant Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened seven people (it may be eight), according to news reports. Those sickened ate at that restaurant between October 18 and October 31, 2019. The Asian Fusion restaurant is located at 47 Main Street in Cortland, New York. All seven patients have lab confirmed infections. The testing is continuing, so there may be more illnesses announced. The Health Department has alerted health care providers in the area to be on the lookout for patients presenting with the symptoms of campylobacteriosis. Those symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Most people recover on their own after this infection, but some, especially people … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak in 2017 Associated with Well Water Supply in Nebraska
The February 22, 2019 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Morftality Weekly Report had a study about a Campylobacter outbreak in 2017 that was associated with the municipal water supply in Nebraska. At least 39 people were sickened after they drank untreated city water. The city was not named, just called "City A." Apparently, a center pivot irrigation system, that was supposed to pump livestock waste into farmland malfunctioned. Runoff collected in a road ditch near two wells that fed the water supply. There were 33 probable and 6 confirmed cases in this outbreak. Untreated unboiled city A tap water was the only exposure that was significantly associated with illness. The city is served by four untreated wells and an interconnected distribution system. After the wells were … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak Linked to Pet Store Puppies Grows
The Campylobacter outbreak linked to Petland pet stores puppies has grown. Now 55 people in 12 states have been sickened. No one has died, but 13 people have been hospitalized because their illness is so severe. Sixteen more ill persons have been reported to public health officials since September 1, 2017. The most recent illness began on September 12, 2017. The case count by state is: Florida (13), Kansas (7), Maryland (1), Missouri (2), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Ohio (22), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (2), Utah (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1). Fourteen of those sickened are Petland employees from five states. Thirty-five patients either recently purchased a puppy at Petland, visited a Petland, or visited or live in a home with a puppy sold by Petland before they got … [Read more...]
CDC Issues Report About 2016 Campylobacter Outbreak in Clark County, WA
A Campylobacter outbreak in Clark County, Washington in 2016 was associated with undercooked chicken liver mousse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Notes from the Field about that outbreak in last week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). On July 13, 2016, Clark County Public Health received a report of diarrheal illness in four of seven members of one party who ate at a local restaurant earlier that month. The report was received through an online and phone reported system. Five people interviewed said their only shared exposure was that restaurant meal. CCPH closed the restaurant kitchen on July 13, 2016, and began an investigation. The restaurant was not named, and news of the outbreak was not released to the public. This outbreak was … [Read more...]
Petland Pet Store Puppies Linked to Campylobacter Outbreak
A multistate Campylobacter outbreak is linked to puppies purchased from Petland stores. Thirty nine people in seven states have been sickened in this outbreak. The Ohio Department of Health, the CDC, several other states, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are investigating the outbreak. Petland is a national pet store chain. The case count by state is: Florida (11), Kansas (5), Missouri (1), Ohio (18), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illnesses began on dates ranging from September 15, 2017 through August 12, 2017. The most recent illness was reported on September 1, 2017. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 64 with a median age of 22. Twenty eight patients are female. Nine, or 23%, have been hospitalized. No deaths have been … [Read more...]
Another Campylobacter Outbreak in Seattle, Washington
Another Campylobacter outbreak in Seattle, Washington has been identified by King County Public Health. This outbreak is associated with a private party that was held on June 24, 2017. Public Health was informed about the illnesses on August 10. Two people have been sickened with lab-confirmed Campylobacter infections. Each case said that there were "multiple other ill persons" associated with the same party. Public health officials did not interview the other sick people to confirm details. The food for the party was prepared in the home. One of the foods on the menu was chicken, which has been associated with Campylobacter outbreaks in the past. But this chicken was purchased pre-cooked and was cooked a second time. Officials have not identified a single food item as a … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak Associated with Cafe Juanita in Washington State
A Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened two people is associated with Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, Washington state. A single meal was consumed by a party there on June 24, 2017. On July 24, Public Health King County learned about two ill persons during an interview with one of them who had been diagnosed with this type of food poisoning. King County did not confirm the second illness until August 16, 2017. No other ill persons have been identified. The patients shared many food items, including foie gras. This food has been linked to other Campylobacter outbreaks in the past, especially when it is eaten raw or undercooked. Public Health's Environmental Health Inspectors visited the restaurant on August 17, 2017. During the field inspection, officials saw the cooking process … [Read more...]
CDPH Releases Info about 2015 Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released an investigation about the 2015 Campylobacter outbreak associated with Claravale Farm brand raw milk. In March 2015, the CDPH Infectious Diseases Brand identified three patients who live in Santa Cruz County with Campylobacter infections. All three patients reported consuming Claravale brand raw milk before they got sick. Eventually, seven total case patients were identified. One lived in Marin County, one in Orange County, and five in Santa Cruz county. Two of those patients were hospitalized. Illness onset dates ranged from February 16 to March 25, 2017. Campylobacter isolates were collected from three of the patients and analyzed by pulsed field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Those isolates all had the same primary … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak Linked to OH Sweet Grass Dairy Raw Milk
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is issuing a health alert for unpasteurized raw milk and raw milk products that may be contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. The products are from Sweet Grass Dairy's herd share. That dairy is in Knox County at 6049 Bryant Road in Fredericktown. There is no word on how many people have been sickened, the patient age range, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The last Campylobacter outbreak linked to raw milk was in September 2016. In that outbreak, at least 20 people were sickened in Pueblo, Colorado. A herd share is a system where people buy into a dairy farmers herd, then share in the products the cows produce. This is a way to get around the ban on raw milk sales in many states. The sale of unpasteurized milk is illegal in … [Read more...]
