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CDC: 9 cases now confirmed in deadly Listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese.
Infections have been identified in New York, Maryland, and Virginia, with a death in Maryland.
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Nearly 60 people in Idaho have become ill following the consumption of raw milk, prompting an investigation by health authorities into two separate outbreaks linked to dairy farms in the north and south of the state.
Since early May, close to 60 cases of illness have been reported, with at least 45 people testing positive for campylobacteriosis, an infection caused by Campylobacter bacteria. Officials believe the actual number of affected individuals could be higher, as not everyone who became sick underwent testing.
Many of those infected reported drinking raw, unpasteurized milk. Unlike milk commonly sold in supermarkets, raw milk does not go through pasteurization, a process that heats milk to eliminate harmful bacteria while maintaining its nutritional qualities.
Public health experts have long warned that unpasteurized dairy products can contain dangerous microorganisms, including Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Investigators say Campylobacter appears to be responsible for the current outbreaks.
Symptoms of campylobacteriosis generally develop within two to five days of exposure and may include diarrhoea, fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases bloody stools. While most people recover within a week, the infection can lead to more serious complications in young children, older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The incidents have renewed discussion about the safety of raw milk. Advocates often favour it for its taste and perceived natural qualities, whereas health officials note that pasteurization significantly reduced milk related illnesses after its widespread adoption more than a century ago.
Authorities are continuing to work with the affected dairy farms to identify how the contamination occurred and to determine whether additional cases are linked to the outbreaks. In the meantime, anyone who develops symptoms after consuming raw milk or products made from it is being advised to seek medical care.