New Mexico health officials say a newborn died from a Listeria infection investigators believe was most likely linked to the mother drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk during pregnancy. Officials urged the public to avoid unpasteurized dairy after the death and noted growing raw-milk interest fueled by social media and some public figures. Pasteurization kills Listeria and many other pathogens associated with raw milk, which can be especially dangerous to infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Newborn's Listeria Death Likely Linked to Mother's Consumption of Raw Milk; Officials Urge Caution
FILE - A dairy cow is milked at a farm in Newcastle, Maine, March 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Mexico health officials say a newborn died from a Listeria infection that investigators believe was most likely linked to the child's mother drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk during pregnancy.
Investigation and Findings
State investigators released few details because of privacy protections for the family. While they could not determine a single definitive cause of death, officials said the timing of the illness and reports that the mother consumed raw milk during pregnancy led them to conclude that “the most likely source of infection was unpasteurized milk.”
Why Raw Milk Is Risky
Raw milk can carry a range of disease-causing organisms, including Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria infections in pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth or fatal infections in newborns — even when a pregnant person has only mild or no symptoms.
Pasteurization — the process of heating milk to a temperature high enough to kill pathogens — effectively reduces the risk of Listeria and many other bacteria and viruses. Raw milk has been associated with pathogens such as avian influenza, Brucella, tuberculosis-causing bacteria, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and E. coli. Many of these infections are particularly dangerous for infants, people over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
Public Response and Context
Officials urged people to avoid unpasteurized dairy products in the wake of the infant’s death. Interest in and sales of raw milk have grown in recent years, driven in part by social media and promotion from some public figures and movements advocating alternative health approaches.
“Public health agencies recommend pasteurized dairy products because they significantly reduce the risk of serious infections,” an official said.
If you are pregnant, caring for a newborn, elderly, or immunocompromised, public health guidance generally advises against consuming unpasteurized dairy. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to Listeria or who is experiencing symptoms should contact a healthcare provider promptly.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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