West Virginia Lawmakers Celebrate Raw Milk, Deny Being Sickened By It

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Some West Virginia lawmakers and Capitol staffers had a very bad weekend after drinking raw milk to celebrate a law loosening restrictions on the product. Now state health officials are investigating whether the milk was to blame for their fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and weighing allegations the raw-milk party broke the law.

So far, state and county health officials say they haven't received medical reports of illnesses related to the dangerous bacteria that can live in raw milk, which include Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella and E. Coli. The lawmaker involved, Del. Scott Cadle, who also stayed home sick on Monday, blames his and other illnesses on an unrelated stomach virus circulating the Capitol.

"Everybody up there is getting it," said Cadle, a Mason County Republican. "It's a stomach virus. It didn't have nothing to do with that milk."

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