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

The FDA reported two additional illnesses in a Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak linked to unpasteurized cheese and milk, bringing the total to at least nine people across three states.

The number of cases increased by two since the outbreak was announced earlier this month.

Three of the nine patients were hospitalized; one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Eight of the nine sickened were interviewed; all eight reported consuming unpasteurized dairy and seven identified Raw Farm products.

Five people ate Raw Farm’s raw cheddar and two drank Raw Farm’s raw milk; whole genome sequencing shows high similarity among isolates, suggesting a common source, and over half of the cases are under age 5.