More E. coli Cases Reported In Minnesota Raw Milk Outbreak
Minnesota state health officials announced that three more E. coli O157:H7 cases have been linked to raw milk or other dairy products from Hartmann Dairy Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota. This brings the total number of illnesses with E. coli strains that match the strain found at Hartmann Farm to 8, since May 26, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Two of the three additional E. coli illnesses involve children who consumed raw milk from the farm and the other case involves a baby from the same household as one of the five earlier cases. According to the MDH:
“Health officials said today that 28 environmental and animal samples obtained by the Minnesota Department of Health from the Hartmann farm have now tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Twenty-six samples had the same DNA fingerprint as the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. These additional positive samples include environmental samples from the dairy barn where the cows are milked.”
State health officials also report that this is the first time this particular strain of E. coli O157:H7 has been found in Minnesota. “This is unsettling news, combined with the fact that so many victims in this outbreak are young children,” said food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker. ” This population is most at risk for serious E. coli side effects, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS), which can severely damage the kidneys for life or even result in death.”
Tags: E coli HUS, Raw Milk Outbreak
