LONGMONT, Colo. -- A Longmont goat dairy has been ordered to stop distributing raw milk products after 16 people became ill after drinking milk.

Two children who drank goat milk from the Billy Goat Dairy required hospitalization, Boulder County Public Health reported Wednesday.

Of the people who reported becoming ill from consuming the milk products, lab tests confirmed the presence of campylobacter and E. coli 0157, the health department said. Both types of bacteria are found in the intestines of animals and can be passed in their feces to food, water, and milk products that haven't been pasteurized.

The Billy Goat Dairy operates a goat share program in which individuals buy a share of a goat and in return receive raw, unpasteurized milk. Health officials are contacting every household who participates in the goat share operation to determine if they became sick and to collect samples.

Billy Goat Dairy is fully cooperating with the investigation.

"I'm at my wits end trying to figure it out. That's for sure," said owner Bill Campbell. "When people get sick it hurts me. It hurts me."

"We strongly advise residents to avoid consuming any raw milk or milk products," said Murielle Romine with the health department. "It can be extremely dangerous, particularly for young children and people with weakened immune systems."

During pasteurization, the temperature of milk is raised to at least 161 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 15 seconds, and then rapidly cooled. In addition to helping extend milk’s shelf life, many harmful bacteria are destroyed, including E.coli, salmonella, sampylobacter and listeria.

The Centers for Disease Control identified 45 outbreaks of food borne illness that implicated raw milk or cheese made from raw milk between 1998 and May 2005. These outbreaks accounted for 1,007 illnesses, 104 hospitalizations and two deaths.

Symptoms of Campylobacter include fever, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Serious cases can lead to Guillain–Barre syndrome, permanent paralysis, and possibly death. Symptoms of E. coli include severe diarrhea (frequently bloody), abdominal cramping, and sometimes vomiting. Serious cases of E. coli can lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome causing kidney failure and possibly death.

Health officials urge anyone who has become ill after consuming raw milk or milk products from Billy Goat Dairy to call the BCPH Communicable Disease Control program at 303-441-1460. If illness continues, residents should contact their doctor.