Raw milk carrying Salmonella sickened 170 people in 5 states, mainly kids
A Salmonella Epidemics that have overturned more than 160 people in California and a handful of people in other states have been caused by raw dairy products from a single dairy farm, explains a new report.
The epidemic – described Thursday July 24 in the Weekly ratio of morbidity and mortality (MMWR), published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – took place between September 2023 and March 2024. The California Ministry of Public Health was first informed of the epidemic when nine people fell ill after consuming a specific brand of gross milk produced by the same dairy. This caused an investigation by states and federal officials.
This epidemic is notable because it was “one of the largest epidemics of food origin linked to raw milk in recent history of the United States,” said the authors of the report. Between 2009 and 2021, there were 16 Salmonella Epidemics linked to raw milk consumption and these were relatively small, involving between two and 33 people.
In addition, the epidemic last year was remarkable because it has disproportionately affected young children, because the median age of those who were sick were 7 years old, the report said.
“Commercially distributed raw dairy products have the potential to cause epidemics of significant and generalized infectious diseases,” said reports of the report. “Public health authorities should continue to educate the risks associated with the consumption of raw dairy products, in particular by people with an increased risk of serious illnesses from the enteric [intestinal] pathogens, including children. “”
In addition to SalmonellaRaw milk can contain a range of other pathogenic germs, including bird flu viruses, Campylobacter,, Cryptosporidium,, Escherichia coli,, Listeria And Brucella. Indeed, raw milk, also called non -pasteurized milk, is not heated to a high temperature to kill these germs before being sold. Children under the age of 5, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems are faced with particularly high risks of the consumption of raw dairy products because the The germs listed above can make them seriously sick.
In relation: How does E. Coli embark on food?
THE Salmonella The epidemic described in the report assigned 171 people in total, including 159 confirmed cases and 12 probable cases. Most of the cases occurred in California, but there was each case in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State.
Of the total of cases, 67 took place in children under the age of 5, were in children aged 5 to 12 and 13 were in adolescents under the age of 18. This means about 70% of the total children and teenagers affected. Out of 22 known cases which required hospitalization, 18 were in children under the age of 18. No deaths have been reported.
“The distribution of cases was in accordance with an epidemic of continuous common source,” wrote the authors of the report. This was also confirmed by genetic analyzes of Salmonella Samples collected from patients affected and found in dairy products.
That said, the source of infection in the four cases outside California is not 100%certain. Crus dairy products intended for human consumption are not allowed to be sold in state lines, according to federal law. However, “the federal law does not prohibit the interstate sale of raw milk intended for the consumption of pets or the interstate sale of aged raw cheese for ≥ 60 days”, noted the authors of the report.
As such, these four cases may concern local sales of products that were originally produced in California – namely raw cheese or raw milk sold for pets.
“Other possible explanations for cases of non-california epidemic are that patients do not remember or did not precisely signal the travel history or have been infected with non-recognized secondary transmission,” speculated the authors.
The MMWR does not name the dairy involved in the epidemic. But in 2024, The Fresno bee reported That the officials had linked the epidemic to RAW FARM LLC, based in the county of Fresno, and that this led to a reminder of certain products and inspections of its installations of the company. In addition, the same company too Tribute detected in some of its products at the end of 2024encourage Another reminder.
Live Science contacted Raw Farm before the publication, but the company refused to comment on this story.
In the meantime, this month, The County Health Department of Allegheny in Pennsylvania urges people To eliminate all the raw dairy products from a family cow brand after the inhabitants fell ill Salmonella infections after consuming the products. The family cow is based in Chambersburg. “Anyone who has consumed raw dairy products from the family cow should consult a health care provider if he falls ill,” advises the ministry.
This article is for information only and is not supposed to offer medical advice.
