At least 31 residents of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula were sickened early this year in a Campylobacter outbreak linked to raw milk, according to a report from state health officials. While this outbreak, which lasted from early January to mid-February, appears to be over, the farm whose raw milk caused the outbreak could still be serving… Continue Reading
Opinion
My passion for public health stems from my career as an infectious disease doctor, watching families cope with the heartbreak caused by preventable diseases, including foodborne illness. I know what it feels like to explain to a husband in shock that the reason his wife is on life support is because of something she ate… Continue Reading
Infection rates of the foodborne pathogens Campylobacter and Vibrio parahaemolyticus rose in 2012, while other major pathogens generally maintained rates similar to recent years, according to the nation’s annual “food safety progress report” published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday. Campylobacter infections, most commonly associated with poultry and raw milk, rose… Continue Reading
The number of people sickened with Campylobacter infections linked to raw milk in Alaska has now risen from 18 to 24, reported health officials this week, according to news channel KTVA 11. Two patients have been hospitalized as a result of their infections, according to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE). One of the victims is… Continue Reading
New research out of Denmark has shown that the use of fly screens in chicken coops can reduce the amount of Camplyobacter bacteria in these environments. Campylobacter is the leading cause of intestinal disease in humans in the European Union, according to the European Food Safety Authority, and 20 to 30 percent of these cases… Continue Reading
The number of cases in an ongoing Campylobacter outbreak tied to raw milk in Alaska has risen from 4 to 18 individuals, the Alaska Division of Public Health announced on Friday. Two patients have been hospitalized. Health officials expect the number of cases to rise. All of the cases have been connected to raw milk… Continue Reading
Applying hot, flowing air to poultry transport crates could be an effective way to kill Campylobacter in these environments, according to new government research. Poultry is a known reservoir of Campylobacter, a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most Campylobacter infections are associated with raw or… Continue Reading
In a new study, a team of California-based scientists shows that by targeting and analyzing a specific gene in Campylobacter, labs can screen dozens of isolates of the bacteria to find the handful most likely to be the source of an outbreak. Unlike other enteric bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter is so diverse… Continue Reading
A new analysis of Campylobacter infections among workers at a Virginia poultry plant offers hints about which employees more likely to fall ill from the bacteria. Government researchers examined health data for plant employees from January 2008 through May 2011 and found that 29 Campylobacter cases had been confirmed during that time period. Their findings… Continue Reading
Foodborne bacteria cause more illnesses among children than adults, according to new estimates. A study published this week in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal finds that children less than five years old fall ill from intestinal bacteria originating in food more often than adults. Researchers looked at the incidence of five foodborne pathogens - Campylobacter, Escherichia… Continue Reading
Katie Maness was 13 years old when her parents took her and two friends to the 2004 North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. It was a beautiful October day, as her mother Becky recalls years later, and the three girls were excited to visit the petting zoo on their own. Inside the zoo exhibit, the… Continue Reading