The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is again warning the public in 19 states about the potential exposure to Brucella RB51 in 19 states, connected to consuming raw milk from Miller's Biodiversity Farm in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. One case of brucellosis was confirmed in New York in November 2018. Three people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with brucellosis after drinking raw milk since 2017. An unknown number of people, estimated to be in the hundreds, may have been exposed to the bacteria from drinking unpasteurized milk from this farm, a farm in Texas, and an online retailer. A cow that tested positive for the pathogen has been removed from the Miller's Biodiversity Farm milking herd. In late December 2018, raw milk and raw milk products from Miller's … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have an E. coli Infection?
If you contract an E. coli infection, the symptoms are unmistakeable. Because of the toxins the pathogen produces, and how it attacks the body, patients know they are really ill. All pathogens are assigned a "multiplier" by public health officials. The number is chosen based on how many people actually go to a doctor when they contract food poisoning. The multiplier for Salmonella infections is 29, because not many people need to see a physician when they are ill. The multiplier for E. coli infections is 26, which is a surprisingly high number, given the severity of the symptoms. The main symptoms of E. coli infections are: Very severe and painful abdominal cramps Bloody and watery diarrhea Mild fever Those symptoms usually begin three to four days after … [Read more...]
Listeria Monocytogenes in Raw Milk From Shunpike Dairy NY
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria was found in raw milk that was produced by Shunpike Dairy at 1342 Shunpike, in Millbrook, New York. That is in Dutchess county. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets released this information in a press release. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. The pasteurization process briefly heats the milk to kill pathogens such as Listeria. No illnesses have been reported to date in association with this issue. A sample of the milk that was collected by a Department inspector tested preliminary positive and the dairy was notified on January 25, 2019. Further testing conducted on January 30, 2019, confirmed the presence of the bacteria in the milk. The dairy is now prohibited from selling raw milk until sampling indicates the product … [Read more...]
CDC Issues Brucella Health Advisory For Miller’s Biodiversity Raw Milk
The CDC has issued a Health Advisory, for Brucella RB51 that may be connected to raw milk from Miller's Biodiversity Farm in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. The New York State Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health are investigating illnesses. In late December, 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Health quarantined that farm's raw milk and raw milk products for possible Brucella contamination. As of January 22, 2019, exposures to this milk have been identified in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. There are three people who are sick with the symptoms of Brucella RB51, due to raw … [Read more...]
Miller’s Biodiversity Farm Raw Milk Products in Harrisburg PA Quarantined for Brucella
Miller's Biodiversity Farm raw milk and dairy products have been quarantined by public health officials because they may contain a strain of Brucella abortus (RB 51), according to a notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). The farm is located in Harrisburg, Lancaster county. The press release was dated 12/22/2018. The Department has not posted an update on this issue. The PDA has issued an order of quarantine to stop the sale of dairy products made from raw cow's milk while an investigation is ongoing. Pasteurized dairy products from Miller's Biodiversity Farm are safe to consume. The quarantine applies only to this farm. One person in New York state has been diagnosed with RB51, and that illness was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pot ‘O Gold Dairy Raw Milk in Bear Lake, PA
A Salmonella outbreak has been linked to raw milk from Pot 'O Gold Dairy Specialties in Bear Lake, Warren County. That dairy is located in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Department of Agriculture released information about the outbreak late yesterday. So far, nine cases of Salmonella food poisoning have been diagnosed and confirmed. The press release did not state the ages of the patients, whether or not anyone has been hospitalized, or the illness onset dates. The raw whole milk was sold in glass half gallon containers with the Pot 'O Gold label at 16 stores in these counties: Erie, Crawford, McKean, Warren, and Venango. The milk that was sold from September 10, 2018 to the present is part of this recall. The milk was sold at these Crawford County facilities: Buck and … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Linked to WA Dungeness Valley Creamery Raw Milk Sickens Two; Lawsuits Possible
An E. coli outbreak that sickened a child under the age of 5 and a person in their 70s is linked to raw milk from Dungeness Valley Creamery raw milk in Olympia, Washington. The child lives in Island county and the older adult lives in Clallam County. The press release from the Washington State Department of Health states that they got sick "with an E. coli infection after drinking Dungeness Valley Creamery raw milk." Dr. Scott Lindquist, Washington state communicable disease epidemiologist, said in a statement, "Raw milk doesn’t go through the pasteurization process where harmful germs and bacteria are destroyed. This puts infants, young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system at a greater risk of illness when they drink it." Food safety … [Read more...]
Tennessee E. coli Outbreak That Sickened 15 Children Had Two Sources; Lawsuits Possible
The E. coli O157 outbreak in Knox County, Tennessee that sickened fifteen children had two sources, according to the Knox County Health Department. Fifteen confirmed cases were reported to KCHD in the last several weeks in this Tennessee E. coli outbreak. Nine of those children were hospitalized because they were so sick in this Tennessee E. coli outbreak. Seven patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Of the children who were hospitalized, one remains in fair condition at Tennessee Children's Hospital. Lab reports confirmed that two different strains of E. coli O157 bacteria caused these illnesses. KCHD Director Dr. Martha Buchanan said in a statement, "“While it is rare, it appears we had two sets of children sickened by two different strains … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Associated with Raw Milk and Farm Animals in TN Updated; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The E. coli O157 outbreak associated with raw milk and contact with farm animals in Tennessee has been updated by the Knox County Health Department. Public health officials are investigating any potential connections between these two likely sources, and it is possible that there are two unrelated E. coli clusters. At least ten children have been sickened in this outbreak. The health department is conducting extensive interviews with the families of the ill children. They are also contacting people who may be at risk to see if anyone in that household is ill, examining all potential sources; plotting symptom onset to aid in determining the first case in this outbreak, potential exposures and the type of outbreak; analyzing the statistical significance of the findings; and collecting … [Read more...]
E. coli O157 Outbreak in Tennessee Updated by Knox County Health Department; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The E. coli O157 outbreak in Tennessee associated with raw milk and contact with farm animals has been updated by the Knox County Health Department. The media release states, "To date, more than 10 cases of E. coli O157 have been reported to KCHD all are among young children. No new E. coli cases were reported over the weekend. However the incubation period for E. coli is two to 10 days." At least four of those children have been hospitalized; all have hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The common link among most of the sick children in this E. coli O157 outbreak is raw milk from French Broad Farm, a local cow-share dairy in Knox County. Public health officials are advising the public not to consume raw ilk or any other unpasteurized products they may have … [Read more...]
