Milk form NE PA Creamery May Be Linked to 17 Confirmed Yersinia Infections

Pennsylvania Dept of Health released a health advisory for those who may have purchased milk from Creamworks Creamery in Waymart, PA (Wayne County) because the product may contain  Yersinia enterocolitica, a food borne bacterial pathogen.   Product from this establishment may be linked to 17 laboratory-confirmed illnesses caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Y. enterocolitica

• Gram negative, short rods
• Can grow at refrigeration temperatures and has been an issue in products such as pasteurized whole milk and tofu.  Commonly found in pork and can be an issue in undercooked pork.
• Heat sensitive, so easily eliminated by proper pasteurization.  Poor sanitation and improper sterilization techniques by food handlers, including improper storage, may be a source of contamination.  
• Has a high infectious dose (>10E4 cu), so a small level of contamination would need time for growth.
• It causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain, which is often mistaken as a appendicitis.  It may also lead to some autoimmune complications.
• Symptoms develop after 4 to 7 days and may last 1 to 3 weeks.
• Cases of infection are fairly rare in the US.

In this outbreak, a good bet would be post-process contamination with time between the contamination event and consumption to allow for growth.  The dairy makes, pasteurizes, and bottles their own milk and that milk is sold  there onsite or through local retailers.

Pennsylvania Dept of Health News Release
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=626

07/19/2019

Department of Health Warns Residents Not to Consume Milk from Wayne County Dairy, Harmful Bacteria May Be Present

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today advised residents who purchased milk from Creamworks Creamery in Waymart, Wayne County, they should not drink it or use it in cooking because it may contain a bacteria, Yersinia enterocolitica, that could make them sick.

“While we continue our investigation, it’s important for anyone who bought milk from this dairy to throw it away or return it,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Creamworks Creamery has voluntarily stopped selling milk and is working with us to determine the source of the contamination. Anyone who consumed milk from Creamworks Creamery and became ill should contact their health care provider or us at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).”

The department is currently investigating 17 laboratory-confirmed illnesses caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, and numerous additional reports of digestive illnesses. The illnesses seem to be connected to only milk sold at the dairy.

Creamworks Creamery is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy produces, pasteurizes and bottles milk on the farm for distribution to local customers including restaurants and grocery stores. They also sell milk to the public at an on-site farm stand.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacteria that causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and can sometimes enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. Onset of illness usually occurs four to six days after exposure but can be as short as one day or as long as two weeks. This bacteria can cause severe infections and the illness can mimic appendicitis and sometimes leads to unnecessary surgery.

Yersinia is a rarely reported cause of foodborne illness in Pennsylvania, with an average of 24 cases annually across Pennsylvania. Many hospital laboratories do not routinely look for Yersinia in samples; therefore, Yersinia infections may be missed unless proper laboratory technique is used.

Any person who consumed milk from Creamworks Creamery and became ill is recommended to contact their health care provider to assure appropriate specimens are collected and treatment is administered if necessary. Ill individuals, health care providers, or laboratories can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).

For more information about Yersinia and other illnesses, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or follow us on FacebookOpens In A New Window and TwitterOpens In A New Window.

MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle, 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

WNEP
Department of Health Warns of Tainted Milk in Wayne County
POSTED 1:27 PM, JULY 19, 2019,
BY WNEP WEB STAFF, UPDATED AT 02:46PM, JULY 19, 2019

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Milk from a creamery in Wayne County could make you sick if you drink it, according to the state Department of Health.

State officials say milk from Creamworks Creamery in Clinton Township, near Waymart, may be contaminated by bacteria.

The state is investigating 17 laboratory-confirmed illnesses caused by the bacteria and numerous additional reports of digestive illnesses. The illnesses seem to be connected to only milk sold at the dairy.

Any person who consumed milk from Creamworks Creamery and became ill is advised to contact their health care provider to assure appropriate specimens are collected and treatment is administered if necessary. Ill individuals, health care providers, or laboratories can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).