Ector County Health Department warns of rising campylobacter and salmonella cases
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- As summer temperatures rise in West Texas, so do concerns over foodborne illnesses. The Ector County Health Department has issued a public advisory following a noticeable increase in reported cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis in the community.
Campylobacter and Salmonella are two of the most common bacterial culprits behind foodborne illness in the United States. Both can cause gastrointestinal infections, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
While many healthy individuals recover without treatment, the infections can be dangerous, sometimes even life-threatening, for young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Campylobacteriosis is typically contracted through undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, or contaminated water. Salmonellosis is most often linked to raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, and produce.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. each year.
While this summer's local advisory doesn't point to a specific outbreak, Ector County has faced foodborne illness events before. In 2016, a salmonella outbreak linked to a local restaurant resulted in multiple confirmed cases.
Nationally, recent recalls, including tomatoes and eggs, have highlighted ongoing risks tied to foodborne bacteria, especially during warmer months when pathogens thrive.
The Ector County Health Department recommends the following steps to prevent foodborne illness:
Proper food handling: Cook all meat, especially poultry, to the appropriate internal temperature. For example, poultry should reach at least 165°F. Use a food thermometer to confirm.
Avoid cross-contamination: Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce. Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils with hot, soapy water after contact with raw foods.
Choose pasteurized products: Opt for pasteurized milk, juices, and egg products whenever possible.
Drink safe water: Avoid untreated water, especially when traveling. Boil or filter when necessary.
Practice good hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after preparing food, after bathroom use, and after handling animals.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of foodborne illness should seek medical attention, especially if symptoms are severe or persistent. Healthcare providers are required to report confirmed cases to the Texas Department of State Health Services to aid in monitoring and outbreak response.
Health officials stress the importance of prevention, especially as warm weather increases the risk of bacterial growth in improperly stored or prepared food.
For more information or updates, visit the Ector County Health Department's website or contact their office directly.
Stay safe and enjoy a healthy summer, Ector County.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Newsweek
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USA Today
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USA Today
a day ago
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Woman sues Florida dairy farm claiming raw milk caused death of fetus
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Maddox and her husband, who is not named in the complaint, fed the milk to their toddler, who on June 8 'began to experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, chills and resultant dehydration,' according to the complaint. The following day, the toddler was hospitalized and tested positive for both E. coli and Campylobacter. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Campylobacter infections can cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. In severe cases, they can cause kidney failure, which is of particular concern for children, according to the Florida Department of Health. Despite not drinking the raw milk herself, hospital testing later confirmed she also contracted Campylobacter while caring for her toddler, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit alleges that the raw milk producer and seller are liable because the product contained Campylobacter and E. coli and failed to give adequate warnings of the product's dangers. 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She was discharged, but later readmitted to another hospital when 'her condition deteriorated,' the complaint said. The lawsuit added that her toddler also spent four days hospitalized, and bloody stools led to a 'fear of hemolytic uremic syndrome,' a serious disease typically caused by an E. coli infection that affects the kidneys and blood clotting system. The child underwent surgery for intussusception − a condition commonly found in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, where one intestine slides into the other, causing a blockage, the suit states. The child later also experienced severe abdominal pain and remained hospitalized for two more days, and has continued to be treated as of Aug. 13, the date of the lawsuit's filing. 21 cases of infections linked to Keely Farms Dairy in 2025 Maddox's lawsuit comes after the Florida Department of Health on Aug. 7 announced that it had been tracking 21 cases of infections linked to Keely Farms Dairy since Jan. 24. Six children under age 10 were among those infected by Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), the Florida health department said. Seven of the people infected by drinking the farm's raw milk were hospitalized, while 'severe complications' were found in at least two of the cases. However, neither Keely Farms Dairy nor Wild Hare Natural Market has responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The state's health department defines raw milk as animal milk that has not undergone pasteurization or heat treatment to eliminate bacteria. Keely Farms Dairy label: 'Not for human consumption' Keely Farms Dairy, along with some of its customers and supporters, has launched a social media campaign to defend its practices. The dairy stated it had not been informed of any investigation by the Florida health department before the announcement linking it to 21 illnesses in Northeast and Central Florida. In the Facebook post, the New Smyrna Beach farm notes that it sells raw milk 'only as livestock feed. It is labeled not for human consumption.' Keely Zeller Exum, owner of the dairy farm, declined to comment when reached by phone Aug. 14, saying she wants to speak with her lawyer before agreeing to any interviews. 'The Department of Health has not been to the farm or taken any samples here,' the business's post reads. 'The Department of Health has not indicated to Keely Farms that it committed any wrongdoing, so its press release has blindsided us.' What are the dangers of raw milk? Raw milk can be a source of foodborne illness and while contamination can be reduced, there is no guaranteed protection from harmful germs in raw milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption,' the CDC said on its website, adding that since the early 1900s, pasteurization has led to a drop in milk-borne illnesses. According to the Florida Department of Health, raw milk can contain disease-causing bacteria, including Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria, Salmonella, and others. The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to stomach cramps. Contributing: Saleen Martin and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
