Pasteurized Milk Linked to Yersinia Outbreak

Five people have been sickened with Yersinia enterocolitica after drinking pasteurized milk in glass bottles from the same dairy.

In a news release, the public health officials said that from June 15 through July 17, three children and two adults in Beaver and Allegheny counties developed diarrhea and other symptoms determined to be caused by the bacteria Yersinia enterocolitica. All five had consumed glass-bottled, pasteurized milk from the Brunton Dairy in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

The health officials said the dairy is cooperating with the investigation and agreed to stop producing milk using its on-site pasteurization facility.

Brunton Dairy is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy produces buttermilk, regular, fat-free, reduced-fat, cream, and chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk, as well as ice cream. The dairy sells its products on the farm, makes home delivery to households in Western Pennsylvania, and also sells milk and ice cream at retail establishments and for use by restaurants. The shelf life of the pasteurized milk is at least 15 days and much longer for ice cream.

Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and can sometimes enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. Onset of illness usually occurs four to six days after exposure, but can be as short as one day or as long as two weeks. The bacteria can cause severe infections and the illness can mimic appendicitis and sometimes leads to unnecessary surgery.

Yersinia is a rarely reported cause of foodborne illness in Pennsylvania, with an average of 22 cases annually statewide and an average of six cases annually in the southwestern region of the state, including Allegheny County. Many hospital laboratories do not routinely look for Yersinia in stool specimens; therefore, Yersinia infections may be missed unless proper laboratory technique is used, the health advisory explained.

The state health department advises any one who consumed a product from Brunton Dairy and has symptoms of diarrhea to contact their health care provider to assure appropriate specimens are collected and treatment is administered; Yersinia infections can be treated with antibiotics.

Fuente: Food SafetyNews

Aporte: Manuel Urrutia