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For immediate release: December 15, 2005 (05-164)
Contacts:
Janet Anderberg, Dept. of
Health food safety advisor 425-745-1726
Jeff Smith, Dept. of Health
Communications Office 360-236-4072
E. coli outbreak in southwestern Washington highlights risks of raw milk
OLYMPIA ¾ An outbreak of E. coli infections in Clark and Cowlitz counties have been linked to consumption of raw milk prompting the Washington State Department of Health to remind consumers of the health hazards of unpastuerized dairy products.
The outbreak has left five children hospitalized — three with possible kidney failure as a result of E. coli infection.
E. coli O157:H7 infection may cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps and bloody stool. Mild diarrhea with little or no fever may also occur. In some people — particularly children under five years of age — the infection can cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This is a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider.
Raw milk can also be contaminated by other bacteria, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria, and these have caused other illness outbreaks. All of these infections are potentially serious or life-threatening. Pasteurization kills the bacteria in raw milk that can cause illness.
"Raw, unpasteurized milk carries a number of health risks," says Washington State Department of Health Food Safety Advisor Janet Anderberg. "There can be several dangerous bacteria in raw dairy products, any of which could cause life-threatening illness. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk."
Washington state allows limited sale of raw milk within the state, but only by milk producers and milk processors who have been inspected and licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The suspect milk in these 6 cases was not acquired from a licensed raw milk dairy. Consumers should read the warning label on the retail raw milk container carefully and ask their retailer to verify the milk was produced and processed by a WSDA-licensed operation.
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Editors: Editors: Clark County Health Department is the lead on the current E. coli outbreak. For more information contact Don Strick, 360-397-6012, ext. 8 or don.strick@clark.wa.gov.
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