New Mexico health officials are warning the public to avoid consuming raw dairy products after a newborn baby died from a Listeria infection.
In a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 3, the New Mexico Department of Health said it believes the "most likely source of infection" was unpasteurized milk the baby's mother consumed while she was pregnant. The state health department did not provide any additional information about the case.
Though investigators cannot identify the exact cause of the infection, the state health department said the "tragic death underscores the serious risks raw dairy poses to pregnant women, young children, elderly New Mexicans and anyone with a weakened immune system."
"Individuals who are pregnant should only consume pasteurized milk products to help prevent illnesses and deaths in newborns," Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for the New Mexico Department of Health, said in a statement.
The consumption of raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products can cause serious health risks and be especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
