Campylobacter, Guillain-Barre Syndrome Resulting from Contaminated Raw Milk
The last outbreak of Campylobacter infection occurred one year ago in a cluster of illnesses in Michigan that also prompted health warnings in Illinois and Indiana. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with state partners, associated the outbreak with raw milk produced on a farm in Middlebury, Indiana.
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A separate raw milk Campylobacter outbreak happened in Pennsylvania at about the same time, resulting in a tragic case of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in a 67-year-old man from Mars, Pennsylvania.
Though not as common as outbreaks of E. coli and Salmonella, foodborne disease caused by Campylobacter bacteria can be just as menacing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), campylobacteriosis causes an incidence of about 13 cases per 100,000 population diagnosed in the United States annually. About 124 people per year in the U.S. die from it. Raw cow's milk is a common vehicle for transmission of campylobacteriosis, but the bacteria also is found in almost all raw poultry because it lives in the intestinal track of healthy birds.
Complications of infection can include meningitis, urinary tract infections, reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is an unusual type of paralysis. It can last for weeks to months. Most people eventually recover completely or nearly completely, but some people have permanent nerve damage and about 5 percent of people who develop GBS die. Paralysis of the muscles that control breathing also is a mark of Guillain-Barré. Lawyer Fred Pritzker of national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen has handled multiple cases of GBS litigation resulting from Campylobacter infection.
Unlike other dreaded medical conditions, campylobacteriosis and GBS are preventable and the lawyers at PritzkerOlsen are actively involved in efforts to stop outbreaks and prevent the spread of all harmful pathogens in the U.S. food supply. As a representative for victims of food poisoning, we hold food purveyors responsible for the costly harms caused by contaminated milk, meat, processed food and produce of all kinds. For a free case consultation with a Campylobacter lawyer, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form and a lawyer will call you.
