Yersinia Enterocolitica in Milk Sickens 5 in Pennsylvania
Since June 15, five individuals – three young children and two older adults – developed diarrhea and other symptoms caused by bacteria called Yersinia enterocolitica. All five people drank and became ill from pasteurized milk in glass bottles from the same local dairy, Brunton Dairy in Aliquippa, Beaver County.
“The five victims of this outbreak deserve compensation,” said Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our food poisoning lawsuits. "The parents of the children who were sickened should also be compensated for the time they had to take off of work and other damages."
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state Department of Agriculture and the Allegheny County Health Department are working together to investigate gastrointestinal infections in Beaver and Allegheny counties. Illness onsets range from June 15 through July 17. Other persons in the same households also experienced a similar illness, but the cause of their illness was not confirmed.
Brunton Dairy is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy produces buttermilk, regular, fat-free, reduced-fat, cream, and chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk, as well as ice cream. The dairy makes home delivery to households in Western Pennsylvania and sells milk and ice cream at retail establishments. The public may also buy products on the farm, and the milk can be purchased for use by restaurants.
Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria causes diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and can sometimes enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. Onset of illness usually occurs four to seven days after exposure, but can be as short as one day or as long as two weeks. The bacteria can cause severe infections and the illness can mimic appendicitis and sometimes leads to unnecessary surgery. In a small proportion of cases, complications such as skin rash, joint pains, or spread of bacteria to the bloodstream can occur.
Yersinia is a rarely reported cause of foodborne illness in Pennsylvania, with an average of 22 cases annually statewide and an average of six cases annually in the southwestern region of the state, including Allegheny County. Many hospital laboratories do not routinely look for Yersinia in samples; therefore, Yersinia infections may be missed unless proper laboratory technique is used.
Any person who consumed a product from Brunton Dairy and has symptoms of diarrhea is recommended to contact their health care provider to assure appropriate specimens are collected and treatment is administered, as Yersinia infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Our attorneys are representing a man in Pennsylvania who was sickened in another outbreak linked to milk from another dairy. To contact our attorneys about a lawsuit against Brunton Dairy, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
Ill individuals, health care providers, or laboratories can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-ACHD (2243).
