Salmonella Outbreak in Pennsylvania Due to Raw Milk Consumption

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 09 - Consumption of raw milk or cheese made from raw milk caused an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium that occurred earlier this year in Pennsylvania, health investigators write in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday.

Raw milk consumption has been touted by some advocates as a means of cutting the risks of atherosclerosis, arthritis, and lactose intolerance, but scientific evidence supporting these claims is lacking. Moreover, in addition to Salmonella, raw milk is a well-known source of infection from Escherichia coli O157:H7, Camplyobacter, Listeria, and Mycobacterium bovis, among other pathogens.

The only sure way to prevent these infections is not to consume raw milk in the first place, the report emphasizes.

The outbreak, which took place in February, involved 29 people with diarrheal illness who were found to be infected with S. typhimurium. None of the people died, but two required hospitalization. More that half of the people were under 7 years of age.

An investigation launched by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture revealed that all but seven of the subjects had consumed, or resided in a house containing, raw milk from the same dairy. Testing of raw milk samples from the subjects' homes and from the dairy confirmed the presence of the same S. typhimurium type.

The dairy was ordered to cease raw milk distribution and their raw-milk permit was later revoked.

\"The findings underscore the need to inform policymakers and the public of the potential health risks associated with raw-milk consumption,\" the report concludes.