Five raw milk outbreaks occurring at the same time this fall highlight the inherent risks of this product. Raw milk is unpasteurized, that is, it is not heat treated to kill dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Brucella, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium. The issue is that a cow's udders are close to the anus. And ruminant animals such as cows can harbor pathogens and not appear sick. The pathogens are excreted in feces and can easily contaminate the udders and milk. All together, these outbreaks have sickened at least 51 people. And since the multipliers for Salmonella and Campylobacter alone are around 30, that means there could be 1500 people sick. The Outbreaks These outbreaks occurred in September and October, 2023. Two of the outbreaks … [Read more...]
Provider Farms Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak in Idaho
A Provider Farms raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Idaho has sickened five people in Ada County, according to the Central District Health office. Three of those five people have tested positive for campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection. They reported drinking raw milk that was produced by Provider Farms in Mountain Home before they got sick. There is no mention about whether or not any of these patients have been hospitalized. The outbreak was identified on September 20, 2023, when those patients were diagnosed. Officials from the Central Health District are collaborating with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on the investigation into this outbreak. Public health officials are interviewing patients and are collecting … [Read more...]
Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak has ended with at least 26 people sick in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four people were hospitalized. Even though this outbreak is over, the government is warning consumers that eating raw cookie dough made with unpasteurized eggs and raw flour is a hazard and can make you sick. The case count by state is: California (2), Idaho (5), Missouri (1), Oregon (8), Utah (4), and Washington (6). That is an increase of eight more patients since the last update on May 23, 2023. The newly diagnosed ill persons live in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. The patient age range is from 14 to 81 years. Illness onset dates ranged from February 24, 2023 to May 28, 2023. State and local health … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Outbreak
The FDA weighs in on the Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people in six states. The cookie dough is Chocolate Chip Cookie and S'Mores Bars. They were sold at Papa Murphy's franchises. Twelve of 14 patients told Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators that they ate the raw dough before they got sick. Papa Murphy's has notified franchise owners about this issue nationwide and has stopped selling the product. They destroyed all of the doughs at all stores. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the contamination and whether more products are linked to illnesses. The case count by state is: California (1), Idaho (4), Missouri (1), Oregon (4), Utah (2) and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from … [Read more...]
Eastern Idaho Campylobacter Outbreak Associated with Raw Milk
An Eastern Idaho Campylobacter outbreak is associated with the consumption of raw milk, according to a notice posted on that agency's Facebook page. Eastern Idaho Public Health is working in conjunction with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to educate the public about the inherent risks of consuming unpasteurized dairy products. Raw, or unpasteurized, milk and dairy products are associated with many food poisoning outbreaks and illnesses in the past several decades. Pathogens linked to these types of products include Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, Brucella, and Listeria monocytogenes. The notice did not state how many people are sick, the patient age range, illness onset date, or whether or not anyone has been … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Black Bear Diner on West State St. in Boise, ID
A food service worker at the Black Bear Diner on West State Street in Boise, Idaho has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Central Health District in Idaho. That restaurant is located at 7530 West State Street in Boise. The employee only worked at the northwest Boise location. That is under different ownership from the south Boise location of a restaurant that shares the same name. The employee worked at the State Street Black Bear Diner on January 26, 30, 31 of 2020, and February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of 2020. Unfortunately, six of those dates: January 26, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, and 6, 2020 are outside the two week window when hepatitis A vaccinations are effective. While the risk of contracting a hepatitis A infection from a food service worker is … [Read more...]
CDC Investigating E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Outbreak Including MD and WI Illnesses
An E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak that includes illnesses reported by Maryland and Wisconsin has just been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Maryland outbreak was announced on November 18, 2019, and the Wisconsin outbreak was announced on November 16, 2019, although the first indication of the Wisconsin illnesses was posted on ProMED-mail. So far, the CDC says that 17 people are sick in 8 states. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (2), Colorado (1), Idaho (3), Maryland (2), Montana (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (6). The case count for Maryland posted by the CDC is different from the case count posted by the Maryland Department of Health, which is seven sick. So there may be as many as 22 people who are ill in this … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A In Food Worker at Two Idaho Restaurants
Two workers at two different restaurants in southwestern Idaho have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Central District Health Department. There is a hepatitis A outbreak in that state that has been ongoing since January 2019. One of the sick food workers was at Red Robin at 211 West Parkcenter Boulevard in Boise, and the other worked at the Frontier Club at 116 East Broadway Avenue in Meridian, Idaho. If you were at customer at either of those venues on these dates listed below, ask your doctor about getting a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. The Frontier Club employee worked these days and shifts while contagious: Friday, August 2 from 9 pm to close (approx. 2 am) Saturday, August 3 from 9 pm to close (approx. 2 am) The Red Robin employee … [Read more...]
Patients Diagnosed with HUS in the E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Live in CA, ID, MN, and PA
In the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, 17 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. That potentially deadly complication can occur in about 5 to 10% of patients in every Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. But in this outbreak, which has sickened 149 people in 29 states and has hosptialized 54, the HUS rate is 13% which is quite high. This could be because there are children, who are more likely to develop HUS than adults, among the patients. Where do those HUS patients live? We contacted the health departments of the states involved in this outbreak and asked. The California Department of Public Health stated that as of May 9, 2018, there are 30 people sickened in this outbreak in … [Read more...]
Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho Hardest Hit by E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce; Some May Sue
The E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce is the largest of its kind since 2006. As of May 8, 2018, 149 people living in 29 states are sick. Sixty-four people have been hospitalized, and seventeen have developed HUS. One person, who lived in California, has died. The states that are hardest hit are Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. Most patients ate chopped romaine lettuce before their illnesses began. In Minnesota, 10 people are sick. California has the largest number of case patients, with 30 ill. In Pennsylvania, 20 people are sick. And in Idaho, there are 11 people with this infection. Public health officials have still not figured out exactly which farm or farms the lettuce came from. One, Harrison Farms in Yuma, Arizona, grew some of … [Read more...]
