Outbreak linked to raw cheese grows; 9 cases total, one with kidney failure

5 hours ago

The FDA reports two additional illnesses in an E. coli outbreak tied to unpasteurized cheese and milk from Raw Farm, bringing the total to nine cases across three states, with three hospitalizations and one case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
Interviews with eight affected individuals confirm all consumed unpasteurized dairy; seven specifically linked to Raw Farm products—five ate raw cheddar and two drank raw milk, with genetic testing suggesting a common source.
The outbreak primarily affects young children, over half under age 5, who are especially vulnerable to severe complications from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can lead to HUS and kidney failure.
STEC infections involve toxin production that damages intestinal cells, and in HUS, toxins enter the bloodstream, targeting kidney blood vessels via Gb3 receptors, causing cell death, inflammation, and kidney failure.

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