It developed nearly 20 food poisoning in Florida after consuming raw milk from the same farm, according to the state’s Department of Health.
Florida officials did not name milk producers, but in a breaking news about the outbreak, they said they were warning about “continued recent cases” because of particular concern about the farm’s sanitation practices. The health department’s notice did not involve the type of milk that came from cows or other animals.
People developed Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC infections. So far, seven of the 21 patients have been hospitalized. There were six cases among children under the age of 10.
“In these raw milk, children, frankly, drink more milk than adults, so it’s not uncommon to have a disproportionate number of children,” said Bill Mahler, a lawyer representing food poisoning victims.
“It’s kids who generally hit the worst people.”
Raw milk is not heated to kill harmful bacteria. Like many states, Florida allows farms to sell raw milk as long as they are labeled as pet and animal food. The Florida Department of Health says the labeling will limit regulations on sanitation practices on the farms that produce it.
From 1998 to 2018, there were 202 foodborne diseases associated with raw milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These outbreaks caused nearly 2,700 illnesses and more than 220 people hospitalized. Official food poisoning reports do not take a real burden as they do not recognize that the food is sick and may not seek medical attention or undergo testing to confirm infection.
Bacteria that cause STEC infection are dangerous because they block the production of proteins within the cells and self-destruct the cells, producing leaf and bird toxins. This creates a strong immune response that is difficult to stop.
“We’ve seen a lot of people suffering from infections,” said Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease expert at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.
It can lead to small clots that form in the blood vessels, which can move into the kidneys and damage them. This is a condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. It is most common in children under the age of 5, but can occur at any age. This condition can be life-threatening.
Children with HUS are usually hospitalized for assistance, including dialysis, and handed over for the kidneys.
Symptoms of STEC are frequent, but not always, include bloody diarrhea. Patients may also experience stomach cramps and vomiting. Fever is rare. These symptoms It usually appears three to four days after eating or contacting contaminated food.
Campylobacteriosis causes diarrhea, which can be bloody. Abdominal pain and fever may also occur. It starts 2-5 days after exposure to bacteria.
Rarely people develop long-term complications from food poisoning. These include Gallian syndrome, where the body’s immune system attacks its own nerves, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
In a statement to CNN, the Florida Department of Health said it did not comment on active or ongoing epidemiological investigations and did not explain why it was not named the farm.
The state’s bulletin regarding the incident did not explicitly warn people not to drink raw milk. Instead, it said it provides information about the outbreak to help residents make informed decisions about their health.
“Residents and visitors need to be aware that there is a known risk of linking raw milk to human consumption,” spokesperson Isabel Kilman said in an email statement.
US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he is a fan of raw milk. In May, he recorded an interview with wellness influencers. This ended with two archers with raw milk in the White House.
CDC says pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risk of raw milk. Agents encourage consumers to choose pasteurized milk and dairy products.
