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Raw, unpasteurized milk from a Clark County Farm has tested positive for E. coli, according to county health officials.
Preliminary tests were conducted using milk samples from the Dee Creek Farm provided by shareholders.
The samples will now be tested by the state to verify that the strain of E. coli is the same strain that has sickened 18 people who reported consuming unpasteurized milk from the farm.
Ten of the victims are from Clark County , five from Cowlitz County , and three from Clatsop County, Oregon.
Five children have been hospitalized during this outbreak. Two remain hospitalized and are improving. "We are pleased the hospitalized children have improved. Our focus continues to be to do all that we can to prevent any more illness or hospitalizations," said Clark County Public Health Manager Marni Storey.
Anyone who has consumed unpasteurized milk products from the Dee Creek Farm or its shareholders within the last four weeks and has bloody or crampy diarrhea is urged to contact their health care provider or their local health department as soon as possible. In Clark County, call (360) 397-8182. In Cowlitz County, call (360) 414-5590.