From Deseret News archives:
Illness may be linked to Payson dairy farm
15 people have tested positive to disease caused by Campylobacter
So far 15 people have tested positive for campylobacteriosis, an infectious disease caused by ingesting bacteria. Officials also say several others have reported symptoms similar to those caused by the bacteria.
The disease is not unusual and is rarely life-threatening, authorities say, but the recent outbreak is much larger than normal. "We basically have seen a fourfold increase" in the number of cases, said Lance Madigan, Utah County Health Department spokesman.
The disease usually causes diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within one to 10 days after exposure. Some experience nausea or vomiting, as well.
Doctors are required to report cases to the health department, but the department rarely sees more than three cases per month in the county, Madigan said.
When the department's epidemiologist, Lisa Guerra, heard about three Campylobacter diagnoses in one day, she said she immediately began investigating. Guerra interviewed the patients, who all live in southern Utah County.
Nine of the cases were traced back to raw milk purchased from Woolsey's Dairy. Only one person has been hospitalized, and several of the cases occurred within a few families that had several sick members.
Inspectors from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food visited the dairy farm Wednesday and collected samples to be tested for the bacteria.
"We expect to get the results back by Sunday," said Larry Lewis, public information officer for the department.
Unpasteurized milk products or contaminated water are often to blame in large outbreaks of Campylobacter infections, according to health department officials, and either the animal or the milk-processing equipment can act as a carrier of the bacteria.
"There are some who advocate the use of unpasteurized milk and other products," said Dr. Joseph Miner, health department director, in a statement released Wednesday. "However, consuming unpasteurized products greatly increases the risk of exposure to food-borne infections, including Campylobacter, salmonella, shigella and toxic E. coli."
The department of agriculture has asked the owner of Woolsey's Dairy, 2232 W. SR 198, Payson, to stop selling his unpasteurized products voluntarily until the test results return.
Owner Lars Woolsey said he's leaving the decision to buy up to his customers.
Comments
- Jazz game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Stanford ends Y's soccer season 2:20 a.m.
- Jazz hope D-Will returns soon 2:19 a.m.
- Snow, SUU lose 2:18 a.m.
- Aggies beat Spartans in snowy Logan 2:17 a.m.
- Toone saves day for Wildcats 2:15 a.m.
- Win in New Mexico good for Y? 2:15 a.m.
- TE George's wife delivers 2:13 a.m.
- Weather, stumble play factor 2:10 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Born of water and the spirit
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU creams U.
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

You can be the first to comment on this story.