2001 Outbreak of Campylobacteriosis Linked to Raw Milk, Wisconsin

A confirmed outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni infections was associated with drinking raw, unpasteurized milk obtained from a dairy farm in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. The farm had a retail store in which milk and other food products were available. In addition, farm operators provided unpasteurized milk samples at community events and to persons who toured the farm, including children from childcare facilities. Because unpasteurized milk could not be sold legally to consumers in Wisconsin, the dairy distributed unpasteurized milk through a cow-leasing program. Customers paid an initial fee to lease part of a cow. Farm operators milked the cows and stored the milk from all leased cows together in a bulk tank. A milk sample from the farm's bulk milk tank, and cultures of the milk samples grew C. jejuni with a PFGE pattern that matched the outbreak strain.

Overview

Outbreak began:December 2001
Affected country:US
States/territories:WI
Pathogen:Campylobacter
Vehicle(s):Milk
Location(s):Dairy
Molecular test results:Not reported

Health impact

Total ill:75

Sources & documents

Report / reference links