A call for help regarding a raw milk witch hunt in California

I understand that I have not earned enough apples to post in the main forums, so I am hoping that someone will read this and answer this desperate plea!

A number of my family members, who live on what could be a compound (three jointing properties consisting of a bit over an acre apiece) are practicing almost subsistence living. A very young child with a compromised immune system who lives on property contracted a rare form of E.Coli. Subsequently, 4 of her cousins contracted the disease. They consume raw goat milk produced onsite using good practices. The children of the woman who supplies the milk are unaffected. The Santa Clara county (California) health department has targeted the goats milk, which they collected. However, they did not test for reasons of "being under staffed". The two families affected also eat berries purchased from a local stand. Those were offered up for sampling and they were begrudgingly collected. They also remain untested. The doctor, who is seeing to the child in the hospital said "This strain could not have come from goat's milk". This was told to the CDC and their response was "Well is he and epidemic specialist?"

They now are demanding to come to my sisters property to collect samples of the goat droppings. Any one who knows anything about livestock and the spread of disease, knows that there is E.Coli in goat feces. This is clearly a push for a political agenda. I don't know where to go, what legal right does the CDC have to collect droppings when they haven't even tested the samples they have? Are there resources out there for people who understand the value of raw milk and how they can protect their rights?

I know how passionate people on this site are. I know how important it is for this community to come to each others aid when the fabric of what we hold so dear is pulled apart one legal thread at a time.

Urgingly yours,
Yadigar

does the person selling the goat milk test her milk? in theory, she should be able to provide documentation of the milks quality.

i, personally, wouldnt allow any manure samples until they tested the milk and i was able to view those results.
just let them know youre to understaffed to get the samples

i would also get something in writing from the dr that says the coli isnt the same strain as what could be found in goats milk.

sadly - as for what is legal and what is not - that seems to matter less and less these days.
good luck.

Hello Yadigar, with an E.coli out break involving 5 children , you have the full attention of local public health and the CDC.

My opinion, work with them to find and stop the source of the outbreak. Protect the health of the children, yourselves, neighbors and community. I think child protective services will become involved if you don't work with them.

THe Weston Price people probably would want to help you. Find a local chapter. They deal with this stuff.
John S
PDX OR