Lawmakers in West Virginia who consumed raw milk after passing a bill legalizing the unpasteurized dairy beverage have fallen ill, but they insist the flu is to blame.

Now, the state Department of Health and Human Resources is looking into the situation.

Pat McGeehan, one of the sick lawmakers, told WSAZ in Charleston that a stomach bug has been making the rounds.

"There's definitely ... some other colleagues that have similar symptoms that I've been experiencing," McGeehan told the TV station.

More from WSAZ:

Several lawmakers say a delegate who sponsored the bill, Scott Cadle (R - Mason, 13), brought in the drinks.

"[Cadle] caught me in the hallway, offered a cup to me, and you want to try to be a gentleman," McGeehan said. "I had a small sip and walked away and tossed the rest of it."

"I highly doubt raw milk had anything to do with it, in my case," McGeehan said.

Still, the lawmakers' plight has been picked up by national media outlets, which have seized on the apparent irony of the situation.

The

because it can contain "dangerous microorganisms."