Severe Illness Strikes Multiple Households (Image Credits: Foodsafetynews.com)
Idaho – Public health officials reported 10 cases of serious E. coli infections connected to unpasteurized milk from a local dairy.[1]
Severe Illness Strikes Multiple Households
Central District Health identified nine illnesses in Ada County and one in neighboring Canyon County. All affected individuals consumed raw cow milk produced by R Bar H Dairy in Caldwell. Two children among the patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a dangerous complication that threatens kidney function.[2]
Investigators confirmed Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, in several cases through patient interviews and milk sample testing. Symptoms appeared three to four days after consumption, including severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Health experts urged anyone who drank the milk to monitor for these signs and seek immediate care. The outbreak highlighted vulnerabilities in raw milk distribution despite legal sales in the state.[1]
Raw Milk’s Hidden Dangers Exposed
Raw milk skips pasteurization, the heat treatment that eliminates harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. Even healthy animals can carry these pathogens in their manure, contaminating milk during handling. Children, pregnant individuals, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems face the highest risks from such infections.[3]…