Overview
- State health officials say almost 60 people have fallen ill after drinking unpasteurized milk since May 19, and at least 45 of those cases have tested positive for campylobacteriosis.
- Most patients reported consuming raw milk from two separate milking operations, one in northern Idaho and one in southern Idaho, and the dairies are cooperating with investigators while the state has not publicly named them or issued a recall.
- Campylobacteriosis typically causes diarrhea that can be bloody, fever and stomach cramps and symptoms usually appear two to five days after exposure with most people recovering within a week but some facing serious complications.
- Investigators across multiple local public health districts are interviewing patients and testing milk samples to identify specific batches of concern and they warn more cases may be identified as testing continues.
- The outbreak follows other raw‑dairy incidents this year and comes as political and consumer interest in raw milk has grown, a trend public health officials say complicates prevention and raises the risk to young children, pregnant people, older adults and immunocompromised individuals.