Alaska: State Investigating 4 Cases Of Raw Milk Contamination

Chris Klint from KTUU.com in Alaska reports on an investigation in Alaska:

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is investigating four cases of people who became sick after drinking bacteria-contaminated raw milk from a Mat-Su Valley farm.

According to DHSS spokesperson Greg Wilkinson, state law doesn’t allow the sale of raw milk, but does permit owning shares of an animal to receive its milk — which doesn’t have to be tested or pasteurized before it’s distributed.

The four people infected with Campylobacter jejuni bacteria from May 1 through June 4 were Southcentral Alaska residents ranging in age from 1 to 81 years old. All four experienced severe gastrointestinal illness after drinking raw milk from the unnamed farm, the only common exposure to a single food item they shared. Two of the four said family members also experienced symptoms but did not seek medical attention.

Anyone who has consumed raw milk since March 2011 and subsequently experienced acute gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, cramps or fever, should contact DHSS at 907-269-8000.

Read the whole story here.