Eight people who drank raw milk from Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen in Hillman, MN have been sickened with Cryptosporidium and E. coli, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Four of them are children under 10. One person is hospitalized.
MDH urges everyone who recently purchased Healthy Harvest raw milk not to drink it. “The milk may be labeled natural A2 milk, and consumers may be unaware that the milk has not been pasteurized,” a statement from MDH warns.
Cryptosporidium, a parasite, and E. coli, a bacteria, are both commonly found in cattle. When milk is not heat-treated, these pathogens can cause illness in people who drink it.
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Healthy Harvest Raw Milk Cryptosporidium and E. coli Outbreak
All eight patients said they purchased or consumed raw milk from Healthy Harvest Farm before they became ill. And all of them were sickened by related subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum. This suggests they were exposed to the same source of contamination. In addition to the parasitic infection, one patient also had an E. coli O111:H8 infection. It is not unusual for multiple pathogens to be linked to raw milk outbreaks, MDH said.
Some people with E. coli infections suffer a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure. HUS most often affects children and teenagers. Four of the people sickened in this outbreak are under the age of 10.
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics should not be given to patients with E. coli infections as they can increase the chance of developing HUS.
HUS can be fatal. Anyone with HUS symptoms should seek immediate emergency health care.
HUS symptoms include:
- Bloody diarrhea
- Pale skin
- Unexplained bruising
- Decreased urination
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in legs, feet, or ankle
Related
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- Cryptosporidium Lawsuit
- Raw Milk Doesn’t Do a Body Good – 675 Sick, 2 Dead in 6 Years
Experienced Food Safety Lawyers
Pritzker Hageman food safety attorneys have successfully represented clients nationwide who were sickened by contamainted food and beverages. Our experienced food safety lawyers can help you determine if you have a case.
If you or a family member have been sickened by raw miik from Health Harvest Farm and you would like a free consultation with one of our experienced food poisoning lawyers please contact us today. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or completing the form below. There is no obligation and you never owe anything at all unless we win.