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Is Campylobacter in Linn County, Oregon on the rise? County Health says it is. In a mid-August meeting, the situation was brought to the attention of local leaders. The County is keeping an eye on the recent uptick in cases.
Here is what we know about Campylobacter in Linn County so far.
In Room 200 at Linn County Courthouse, among other agenda items, Dr. Adam Brady (Linn County Health Officer) brought up the recent uptick of Campylobacter in Linn County.
According to reports, East Linn County appears to be more affected than other parts of the jurisdiction. However, Dr. Brady indicates that cases are being monitored and the County is watching the situation.
Dr. Brady explained that the five year average for Campylobacter in July have been around four cases.
The county saw 11 cases in that month this year.
Could this be a sign of a larger outbreak?
When asked how the public was contracting the illness, Dr. Brady explained that improperly cooked food is the most common source.
Barbeques and grilling are popular this season. These activities often increase during the summer months. He cited chicken being grilled at these events as a possible source. However, no single centralized source has been identified.
While he also indicated that this type of illness is rarely associated with food served at restaurants, this is not always the case. Several restaurant outbreaks have been caused by this foodborne bacterial infection throughout the country.
More information is needed to better understand this uptick in cases.
So far, no existing Campylobacter outbreak is being monitored in multi-state U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outbreak tables.
With no specific food source on the radar, it can be tricky to avoid risky foods. However, residents can take extra precautions. Especially with foods known to have higher risk of Campylobacter contamination.
The CDC states that most Campylobacter infections are caused by eating raw or undercooked poultry. But there are other potential sources.
Untreated drinking water, touching animals that carry or spread Campylobacter bacteria, and other potentially contaminated foods. For example, seafood, meat, and produce.
In the past, Campylobacter outbreaks have been associated with specific foods.
Previous outbreak sources:
More recently, both Campylobacter and E. coli have been associated with raw milk in Florida. This particular outbreak sickened at least 21 people. Including six children. In that state raw milk is legal for sale. However, only for “non-human consumption.”
Campylobacter is a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness in humans.
According to the CDC, this harmful pathogen is responsible for around 1.5 million human illnesses in the United States each year!
Campylobacter causes typical intestinal illness symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
Most people begin to feel sick around two to five days after ingesting something contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. Most of the time symptoms are resolved within a week. However, some may experience additional complications.
Those with weakened immune systems, people receiving chemotherapy treatment, and those with a blood disorder are more likely to develop a life-threatening infection if the bacteria spread to the bloodstream.
Certain complications of Campylobacter infections can be long-term and even life-threatening. These include Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Reactive Arthritis are three well-known complications.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome impacts around 3,000 to 6,000 people in the United States each year. It is a type of complication causing an auto-immune-induced paralysis that attacks the nervous system.
This complication often starts as a weakness and tingling sensation in the arms and upper body. It can spread over the course of a few hours, days, or even weeks and worsen until muscles become paralyzed.
In most cases, those suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome recover within a few weeks. Others, unfortunately, may take years to recover or suffer permanent nerve damage.
Some people have even died of complications from Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Another potential complication of Campylobacter infection is irritable bowel syndrome. This is a condition often brought on by environmental triggers (such as a Campylobacter bacterial infection).
Inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract can often result in persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding/bloody stools, weight loss, and fatigue.
Campylobacter infections may also cause a joint condition complication known as reactive arthritis.
Reactive arthritis causes pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints (ankles, knees, and feet). It can also affect the eyes and urethra.
In some cases, it may take a year or more for relapses of reactive arthritis symptoms to finally resolve.
If you or a loved one has been sick with Camplylobacter in Linn County or the surrounding area, there are a few things you can do to help yourself and others. With no known source for these illnesses, your information can help narrow down a source.
As soon as you are well enough to do so, make a list of the foods and drinks you consumed prior to becoming sick. Be as specific as possible. Don’t forget to include where you got it and where you consumed it (e.g. dine in, carry out, home cooked, etc.).
The quicker you put together this list, the more accurate it will be.
If you are experiencing sever illness, seek medical attention right away. If you are not sick enough to warrant medical care, it is still a good idea to report your illness. Contact your local health department right away. You may be asked for that list we just talked about.
Others reporting similar illnesses will be asked for their list as well. Overlapping information could point investigators to a potential food source.
If you have been seriously impacted by Campylobacter in Linn County, it is a good idea to get advice from a Campylobacter outbreak lawyer. A lawyer specializing in these types of cases can help answer questions you have. And even offer suggestions to questions you have not even thought of.
If you have become seriously ill from Campylobacter in Linn County or the surrounding area, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Campylobacter Outbreak Lawyer that can help!
Call (833) 330-3663 or email today for your free, no obligation consultation. A compassionate member of our team will go over the details of your situation to help you decide if you have a legal case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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