Raw Milk Outbreak
A Campylobacter and E. coli raw milk outbreak has sickened at least 21 in the Northwest/ Central Florida region, according to the Florida Department of Health. It is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in that state; it can only be sold for non-human consumption as pet or animal food, and containers of raw milk must have a label that plainly states this milk is for animal consumption only.
The provider of the milk, or the farm, was not named in the notice. Because of the recent cases of Campylobacter and Shiga-toxin production E. coli (STEC) infections linked to a “particular farm,” the Florida Department of Health is providing this information. Sanitation practices on the farm are of particular concern because of the number of cases.
Six of the 21 patients are under the age of 10. Seven people have been hospitalized. Severe complications have been reported for at least two cases.