Two Hundred Thousand California Residents Infected Annually by a Bacteria Known as Campylobacter

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), an estimated 200,000 people are infected by Campylobacter each year in California. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suspects it causes 1.3 million illnesses. The CDC also reports that Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness and that most human illness is caused by one species, Campylobacter jejuni.

In addition to diarrhea, most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis, the name of the illness caused by the bacteria, have cramping, abdominal pain and fever within two to five days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts about one week; however, some infected people do not have any symptoms. For those with a compromised immune system, the bacteria occasionally spreads to the bloodstream causing a serious and potentially life-threatening infection.

Regarding ways people become infected, CDPH states: Eating food contaminated with Campylobacter can result in illness. Campylobacteriosis is most commonly associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry. Chickens are frequently infected with Campylobacter although they may not show symptoms. Past studies have shown that over half of the raw chicken meat sold in the U.S. contains Campylobacter. Cross-contamination with Campylobacter can sometimes occur when raw poultry is sliced on a cutting board, and the unwashed board or knife is then used to prepare vegetables or other lightly cooked foods. In addition to poultry, other animals can also be infected by Campylobacter. Outbreaks of campylobacteriosis have also occurred when people drink surface or stream water that has been contaminated by infected birds or cows.

“Campylobacter infections can also be multi-drug resistant, making them much more costly and difficult to treat,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “An outbreak like this occurred in recent years that was linked to contact with pet store puppies. To help prevent the spread of microbial pathogens, LA Testing offers food, surface, water and additional environmental testing services for Campylobacter and other microbial pathogens. These services are available to the public, health officials and industry.”

LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about Campylobacter and campylobacteriosis that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/rKRkOwOpAO8.

To learn more about microbial pathogens or other food, surface and environmental testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.

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