A Pennsylvania camp Yersinia outbreak in 2019 was linked to pasteurized milk that was produced and pasteurized at a small local dairy in the northeastern part of the state. Cases occurred in campers, camp staff, and community members who were not affiliated with the camp. One hundred nine people were sickened, and seven people were hospitalized. This was only the sixth Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak reported worldwide in association with pasteurized milk. Four of these outbreaks were at small dairies conducting on-site pasteurization. Five clinical isolates from camp members, two from community members, and nine isolates from unpasteurized milk from the dairy were indistinguishable using whole genome sequencing. The risk for yersinosis among camp staff who drank the dairy's … [Read more...]
Creamworks Creamery Milk Associated With Pennsylvania Yersinia Outbreak
Creamworks Creamery milk is associated with a Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak in Pennsylvania, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. At least 17 people have laboratory-confirmed illnesses that "seem to be connected to only milk sold at the dairy," according to the release. Creamworks Creamery is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy producers, pasteurizes, and bottles milk on the farm and sell sit to local customers at an on-site farm stand, to restaurants, and to grocery stores. Yersinia enterocolitica causes symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If the pathogen gets into the bloodstream, it can attack other organs. Illness onset is typically four to six … [Read more...]
