A newborn’s death likely linked to the mom drinking raw milk while pregnant
A newborn baby died from a Listeria infection possibly linked to his mother’s drinking raw milk health authorities during pregnancy.
New Mexico officials this week warned people to avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products following the death. In recent years, interest and sales in raw milk have been increasing, thanks to social media and the increasing support of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Make America Healthy Again movement.
State officials have released few details about the newborn, citing privacy restrictions. While researchers said they could not determine the exact cause of the baby’s death, “the most likely source of infection was unpasteurized milk.” That conclusion was based on information gathered during the investigation, including the timing of the infection and reports that the mother drank raw milk during pregnancy, an official said.
Raw milk can contain many disease-causing germs, including Listeria. This is a type of bacteria that can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or fatal infections in newborns, even if the mother is mildly ill.
Pasteurization, the process of heating milk to a temperature high enough to kill germs, can prevent infections from other types of bacteria, as well as Listeria and viruses. Raw milk may contain microbes that cause avian flu, brucellosis, tuberculosis, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium and E. coli infections. Many of these infections are especially dangerous for young children, people over 65, and those with weakened immune systems.
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