Continuing Investigation Into Whittier Farms Listeria Outbreak
Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are hopeful that the Listeria outbreak linked to Whittier Farms milk is contained, but warn that the outbreak may not yet be over, according to the Worcester Telegram. A warning to consumers was issued on December 27 about the outbreak, and since then the death of three men and a woman’s miscarriage has been linked to the Listeria outbreak.
Listeria can incubate for up to 70 days, which will be March 6 or later in this outbreak. Whittier Farms has been ordered to shut down milk production and cannot resume until the plant is cleared by state officials. Whittier Farms provided milk for 31 wholesale accounts, which have since switched to different providers due to the outbreak.
Dr. Alfred DeMaria, director of Communicable Disease Control of the state’s Department of Public Health, insists on keeping a strict watch on the case for at least three more months. Health officials have also revealed that the listeriosis victims were a 75-year-old man who died in June, a 78-year-old man who died in October, and an 87-year-old man who died last Thursday. A pregnant woman’s miscarriage last year was also linked to the outbreak. Another pregnant woman, 31 years old, is also a possible fifth case involved. The woman and her baby are doing fine, according to state health officials.
More than 100 samples were taken from the dairy last week to pinpoint the source of the outbreak and the results are due later this week. Dr. DeMaria also stated that the deaths have been linked to 1% milk and coffee flavored milks produced by Whittier Farms, but other products may also be contaminated. The bacteria in all the cases are identical, which is evidence of an outbreak, according to DeMaria.
Whittier Farms has kept it stores and farms open for the sale of non-dairy items throughout the outbreak. The dairy has had no previous issues concerning a Listeria outbreak. The state conducts regular inspections of the plant and has previously praised the dairy for its cleanliness and timely response to minor violations.
The outbreak centers on pasteurized milk, only the third such Listeria outbreak in the country’s history, according to Dr. DeMaria. The first outbreak occurred between June and August of 1983, resulting in the death of 14 people. Pasteurized whole and 2% milk was linked to be the source in the outbreak. The second outbreak occurred in 1994, resulting in no deaths, but four hospitalizations due to drinking Listeria contaminated pasteurized milk.
The Whittier Farms outbreak is only the third case in United States history to be linked to pasteurized milk. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization still maintain that pasteurization kills Listeria bacteria and is a safe process to adequately prevent foodborne illnesses due to Listeria contamination.
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