A germ that comes from undercooked chicken or turkey is popping up more frequently this year in Stanislaus County, sickening 90 people so far.

The culprit is campylobacter, common in poultry and raw milk, and which causes intestinal disorders in people.

During the same time period last year, county public health officials recorded 65 cases.

Last year was a relatively "slow year" in terms of the infection, marked by fever, cramps and bloody diarrhea, officials said. The germ is more common during the summer months.

Still, the number of people infected with campylobacter is slightly above normal, said Roselyn Cunningham, a communicable disease nurse with the county's Health Services Agency.

"The thing is, it's easily preventable if people use proper techniques for handling raw meat," Cunningham said.

Public health nurses, who interviewed every person in the county reported to have been infected by the bacteria, aren't having any luck tracing the origins of the infections, Cunningham said.

They don't seem to be connected to a particular restaurant or grocery store, she said. The affected people live throughout the county and range in age from children to the elderly.

Failing to cook meat thoroughly or to wash cutting boards and hands with hot, soapy water can lead to the infection, Cunningham said. So can drinking milk that hasn't been pasteurized.

Infections traced to undercooked poultry often occur during the summer, when families feast on barbecued dinners. Also, swimmers can be infected if they swallow lake or river water contaminated with the waste of infected animals.

Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are about 2 million cases of the infection each year throughout the nation, resulting in 200 to 800 deaths a year. None of those deaths are believed to have occurred in Stanislaus County.

Campylobacter also has been linked, in rare cases, to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause severe nerve damage.

Dr. Charles Shull, who works at the Health Services Agency's urgent care center, said infections are worse if the patient is very young, very old or suffers from a weakened immune systems.

Shull advised patients to drink plenty of clear fluids, like water or sports drinks. In some cases, antibiotics are recommended, he said.

People who have experienced symptoms for more than one week should see a doctor, Shull said. Anyone with symptoms and who can't drink water because they're vomiting, should see a doctor right away.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee.