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Last updated on Tuesday, June 2, 2015
(DAVIESS CO.) - Dr. Merle Holsopple, Daviess County Health Officer, issued a release stating there have been several cases of diarrhea reported among young children under the ages of 2 years old in the Odon and Montgomery areas.
The diarrhea is caused from a bacterium called Campylobacter.
Most people who become ill suffer from diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. This bacterium spreads to persons with weakened immune systems such as young children or the elderly and can cause serious health problems.
The bacterium is more common during the summer months. It can be found in animals, livestock and birds. These animals can carry the bacteria and not become ill. Most human cases are associated with drinking unpasteurized dairy products of eating raw or undercooked poultry meat.
Contamination of a farmer's clothing and/or shoes with feces can be brought into the house exposing the young children.
Several of the cases in Daviess County have been linked to drinking unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized milk can become contaminated if the cow or goat has an infection in her udder or if the milk is contaminated with manure during handling.
Your physician will be able to diagnosis Campylobacter by collecting a stool specimen or rectal culture. Once the bacterium has been identified your healthcare provider may prescribe medication for treatment.
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