Health officials in Utah are investigating a cluster of campylobacteriosis cases linked to raw milk.
In a press release, officials with the Salt Lake County Health Department say they have identified 10 people in the county with campylobacteriosis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by the bacterium Campylobacter, with four additional cases reported statewide. Twelve of the 14 patients have confirmed raw milk consumption, the source of which has not yet been identified.
The patients' ages range from 2 to 73 years old. One patient has been hospitalized but is now recovering at home.
Campylobacter is among the species of foodborne illness-causing bacteria found in raw, unpasteurized milk. Infection with the bacterium causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, and illness can be serious for young children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
State officials warn that drinking raw milk may be dangerous and advise residents to consume only dairy products that have been pasteurized.
There have been 25 outbreaks of Campylobacter linked to raw milk in the state since 2009, resulting in 295 people becoming ill.