Campylobacter Blog

Your Family Cow Campylobacter Outbreak - Biggest in Pennsylvania History?

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:55:46 -0800

Another day, another update, and more people sick. The number ill in the campylobacter outbreak has now reportedly risen to 77:

Pennsylvania Department of Health officials said Thursday that the total number of cases continued to increase. The department has identified 67 cases in Pennsylvania, five in Maryland, two in New Jersey and three in West Virginia.

“This outbreak has now become the largest outbreak associated with raw milk in Pennsylvania in at least the past two decades,” health department spokeswoman Holli Senior wrote in an email.

Time to cue the comments denying that this (and other outbreaks) even exist. There is a debate to be had in balancing public health and consumer's choices. That debate can't start until those advocating for legality of raw milk confront the facts.

76 Cases Counted in Your Family Cow Dairy Campylobacter Outbreak

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:01:19 -0800

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced today that 76 people have now been confirmed to be part of the Your Family Cow dairy Campylobacter outbreak. At least 9 people have been hospitalized due to the severity of their Campylobacter infections.

The new breakdown of illnesses by state is as follows: Pennsylvania (66 illnesses), Maryland (5), West Virginia (3), New Jersey (2).

At least 2 bottles of raw milk sold by the dairy have tested positive for the presence of Campylobacter.

Your Family Cow Dairy Raw Milk Update - 60 Campylobacter Illnesses

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:28:38 -0800

60 people have now been counted among the ill in the outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses linked to raw milk from Your Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, PA. The latest numbers from the Pennsylvania Department of Health were reported on Food Safety News.

Last Tuesday, the dairy resumed production after passing a state health inspection. At that time the number of reported illnesses stood at 43. The latest breakdown of illnesses by state is as follows:

Pennsylvania (51 illnesses), Maryland (4), West Virginia (3), New Jersey (2).

In its February 3 update on the outbreak, the Pennsylvania health department said that approximately half of 36 confirmed cases were individuals under the age of 18.

"Your Family Cow" Raw Milk Campylobacter Update - Now 43 Ill

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:37:27 -0800

The outbreak of campylobacter that has been linked by health officials to Your Family Cow dairy in Franklin County, Pennsylvania has now risen to 43. Late last week the number was at 38 confirmed ill. According to a report the breakdown of illnesses is: 36 people in Pennsylvania, four in Maryland, two in West Virginia, and one in New Jersey.

And while the owners of the farm have issued an apology, it does not appear that they have been deterred from selling unpasteurized milk:

Meanwhile, the state Agriculture Department said the farm passed a final inspection late Monday afternoon and has been cleared to resume production and bottling of raw milk.

The legality of selling unpasteurized milk products varies from state to state. For further information see www.realrawmilkfacts.com.

Update - Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak Reaches 38, Now in Four States

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:34:50 -0800

Pennsylvania health officials have updated the number of reported ill in the outbreak of campylobacter linked to Your Family Cow Dairy, located in that state. The ill persons, though, are now found in four states, Pennsylvania (31), Maryland (4), West Virginia (2), and New Jersey (1).

Earlier in the week Maryland officials reported that they had isolated the strain of campylobacter also isolated from ill persons who consumed the milk in two unopened raw milk samples from the homes of customers.

Maryland Health Officials Confirm Presence of Campylobacter in Raw Milk

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:39:05 -0800

Press says as many as 35 sick.

There was more evidence today that an outbreak of campylobacter illnesses was linked to the Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Laboratories Administration has confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in two unopened raw milk samples purchased from this farm.

MDHMH reports that there are now 23 confirmed outbreak-related campylobacteriosis cases: 4 in Maryland and 19 in Pennsylvania, all of whom consumed raw milk from The Family Cow Farm.

Raw milk has been connected in the past to other campylobacter outbreaks, as well as outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7. For more information on the pros and cons of raw, or unpasteurized milk, see www.realrawmilkfacts.com

20 Campylobacter Cases Linked to Pennsylvania Raw Milk Dairy

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:34:47 -0800

Family Cow Dairy stopped selling its raw milk voluntarily following reports that some customers fell ill with campylobacter infection.According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the number of confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection has increased to a total of 20 confirmed cases – 16 cases have been confirmed in Pennsylvania and four cases of the bacteria illness have been confirmed in the State of Maryland. Testing of the product is still underway at the Department of Agriculture.

Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak in Maryland and Pennsylvania Up to Twelve

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:22:32 -0800

State health officials say there has been an increase in the number of people reporting illnesses since consuming raw milk from a Franklin County farm.

The Health Department said Monday that they have now confirmed 12 cases of Campylobacter infection in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Officials are awaiting test results on the raw milk sold by The Family Cow store in Chambersburg, but said all of those sickened bought raw milk from the store.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.

A formal recall has not been announced, but officials have recommended that people throw out any raw milk bought from the store after January 1.

The farm has voluntarily suspended raw milk production.

6 cases of campylobacter confirmed in Maryland and Pennsylvania: raw milk to blame

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:44:18 -0800

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is reporting multiple Campylobacter infection cases associated with consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk from the Family Cow dairy store in Chambersburg, PA. DHMH, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, advises consumers that milk recently purchased from this store may contain harmful bacteria.

To date, there are six confirmed campylobacteriosis cases: three in Maryland and three in Pennsylvania, all of whom consumed raw milk from this farm. Maryland DHMH recommends consumers discard any product purchased from this farm since January 1, 2012.

The implicated milk is labeled “raw milk” (meaning, not pasteurized) and is sold under “The Family Cow” label in plastic gallon, half gallon, quart and pint containers. The Family Cow dairy sells directly to consumers at its on-farm retail store and at multiple drop-off locations and retail stores in the following Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Lebanon, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties.

Notable Campylobacter Illness Outbreaks of 2011

marler@marlerclark.com (Campylobacter Lawyer) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:11:27 -0800

Over at Outbreak Database, we have been keeping track of foodborne illness outbreaks – small and large – over the last 12 months. Here are some of the more interesting Campylobacter Outbreaks:

Jerry Dell Farm Unpasteurized, Raw Milk September 2011 – 2 Ill. At least two people became ill due to Campylobacteriosis after drinking raw milk. Jerry Dell Farm in Freeville, New York had produced the milk. The farm had an agricultural permit to sell raw milk at the farm. The milk was confirmed to be contaminated with Campylobacter.

Matanuska-Suisitna Valley Cow Share Program Raw Milk May 2011 – 18 Ill. An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni was linked to the consumption of raw milk obtained through a cow share program in southeast Alaska. In Alaska, regulations did not allow the sale of raw milk; however owning shares of a cow to obtain milk was permissible. Campylobacter was not isolated from milk, but was isolated from manure samples collected at the dairy farm. Coincidentally Listeria was isolated, but no human illness had been attributed to this pathogen.