Five Things You Should Know About Campylobacter
Health officials in Pennsylvania and Maryland are investigating a raw milk Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened up to 20 people who drank unpasteurized milk from the Family Cow dairy store in Chambersburg, Pa.
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Campylobacter sickens more than 2.5 million Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here are five things everyone should know about Campylobacter:
1. The Most Common Causes of a Campylobacter infection
Drinking unpasteurized milk, or eating raw or undercooked meat or poultry are the most common causes of a Campylobacter infection, called campylobacteriosis.
2. A Little Goes A Long Way
Just one drop of juice from raw chicken meat is enough to infect a person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cutting poultry or meat on a cutting board and then using the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other foods is one way to become ill.
3. Symptoms of an Infection
For those with an infection caused by Campylobacter, symptoms including diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever will appear two to five days after ingesting the organism. A culture of a stool sample is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
4. Serious Complications
While most people who contract campylobacteriosis recover completely within 2 to 5 days, some Campylobacter infections can lead to serious complications including: meningitis, heart attack, hemolytic uremic syndrome, respritory distress, gall bladder inflammation, urinary tract infections, proctitis, arthritis, blood poisoning, severe dehydration and Guillain-Barrè syndrome, a type of paralysis.
5. It Can Be Fatal
Campylobacter infections can be fatal. The CDC estimates 124 Americans die from Campylobacter infections every year.
If you have legal questions about an illness caused by a Campylobacter infection, contact a food safety lawyer at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
