The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday added another case from Chester County. State totals: Pennsylvania 67, Maryland five, West Virginia three and New Jersey two.
The outbreak of campylobacteriosis is the largest linked to raw milk in Pennsylvania in five years. The two prior record outbreaks since 2006 were both in 2008 - 72 cases during an outbreak originating in Lancaster County and 68 from Montgomery County raw milk. More than 250 people in Pennsylvania have become ill after drinking raw milk during the past five years, according to the state health department. Campylobacter bacteria caused six of the seven outbreaks during that time.
Shankstead EcoFarm, trading as The Family Cow, is among 153 farms in Pennsylvania and 12 local farms permitted to sell raw milk or cheese from cows or goats. Proponents of raw milk say the unpasteurized product has health benefits.
Raw milk bottled at the Family Cow about Jan. 16 has been blamed for the recent outbreak. The farm began selling raw milk again on Jan. 27 after passing a state Department of Agriculture inspection.
Edwin Shank said the farm has improved its handling of raw milk.