Raw milk believed to have caused local illness reports

BOISE, Idaho — Central District Health (CDH) announced an investigation Tuesday after Ada County residents became sick due to what they believe was drinking raw milk.

According to CDH, since Sept. 30, three people became sick after drinking unpasteurized milk from Provider Farms in Mountain Home and tested positive for a campylobacteriosis bacterial infection.

Campylobacteriosis symptoms typically appear within two to five days and last a week, including diarrhea (often bloody), fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. In rare cases, people can experience irritable bowel syndrome, temporary paralysis and arthritis. CDH urges anyone experiencing these symptoms after drinking raw milk to seek medical attention. 

CDH’s investigation will collaborate with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Officials said they are conducting interviews with the patients who became infected and are getting samples of raw milk. The ISDA is working with Provider Farms to prevent further infection. 

Provider Farms distributes directly to distributors in Nampa and Burley. 

The ISDA said anyone who has purchased unpasteurized milk from Provider Farms in the last 30 days should throw it away.

For further information on the risks of drinking raw milk, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

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