At least a dozen infections have been linked to raw milk from a cow-share operation based at a Pueblo County ranch, health officials say.
The Pueblo City-County Health Department, El Paso County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are jointly investigating the ongoing outbreak of the campylobacter infections.
Officials say the cases stem from raw milk from the Larga Vista Ranch and can pose severe health risks to those impacted.
“Health officials have identified 12 confirmed and eight probable human cases of campylobacter since Aug. 1,” the departments said in a joint news release. “The most recent onset of illness was Sept. 16. All the individuals who were sickened reported drinking raw milk from Larga Vista Ranch.”
All 20 confirmed and probable campylobacter cases live in Pueblo and El Paso counties, authorities say.
Campylobacter is a bacteria that is destroyed only by the pasteurization process, and symptoms of infection can include fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.
CDPHE has contacted 175 people who are participants in the Larga Vista cow-share operation to alert them of the outbreak.
“People are advised not to consume raw milk and raw milk products from Larga Vista and to discard any such products in their homes,” the release said. “The risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk is greater for infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.”
Health officials say the sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal in Colorado, however people can get raw milk by joining a herdshare.
