State bulletin confirms six rare Campylobacter cases in Alaska in 2025 after lab error correction

Confirmed infections exceed previous years, then shrink under review

Six Alaskans had confirmed infections with Campylobacter ureolyticus in 2025, more than the state reported in previous years. Two of the six were hospitalized and one died during the investigation period.

The final count is smaller than the state first recorded. Epidemiologists logged 19 reports in 2025, and a review of laboratory records reclassified 13 of them. The bulletin said the rise in reports at one laboratory, identified only as Facility A, came from polymicrobial specimens reported incorrectly as C. ureolyticus. The Alaska Section of Epidemiology said the six remaining cases suggest improved diagnostic methods, a true increase in infections, or a combination of both might be contributing to the rise.

The six confirmed patients were 35 to 71 years old, with a median age of 56. The cases were identified across multiple regions of Alaska. All six detections came from extraintestinal specimens.

An underrecognized cause of infection outside the gut

Campylobacter is Alaska's most frequently reported bacterial enteric pathogen. State health officials describe most infections as intestinal illness lasting two to 10 days. C. ureolyticus is an uncommon species of Campylobacter that can cause serious infections outside the intestinal tract. The findings "indicate that C. ureolyticus might be an underrecognized cause of extraintestinal infection in Alaska," the bulletin said.

Reporting and laboratory requirements

Clinicians must report suspected or confirmed Campylobacter cases within two working days. State regulations require that all Campylobacter isolates be submitted to the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory.