800+ households at risk of rare infection linked to contaminated milk, says CDC

Health officials are encouraging individuals who consumed raw milk from a Texas dairy farm to contact their healthcare providers immediately, as they may have been exposed to a serious bacterial infection.

Raw milk from Paradise, Texas-based K-Bar Dairy tested positive for Brucella RB51 bacteria. Symptoms of a Brucella RB51 infection include fever, sweats, aches and fatigue. The bacteria are also resistant to numerous antibiotics. If left untreated, the infection can cause long-term complications such as arthritis, heart problems or chronic infections.

"CDC advises that people who consumed raw milk or milk products from the K-Bar Dairy between June 1 and Aug. 7, 2017, should get antibiotic treatment to avoid the risk of lifelong, chronic infections," the agency wrote in a Sept. 15 announcement.

Individuals from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Ohio, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas have reported symptoms consistent to brucellosis after consuming the raw milk, according to the CDC.

The Texas Department of State Health Services in August confirmed a case of Brucellosis in a resident who consumed unpasteurized milk from the local dairy company. Purchase records and illness reports identify more than 800 households known to have purchased K-Bar Dairy's raw milk. Health officials have been unable to contact about 200 of the households.

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