Brucellosis Linked to Mexican Cheese

Abstract

Three cases of brucellosis occurred, two acute cases and one chronic, all of which likely resulted from the ingestion of fresh cheese containing Brucella melitensis. A history of patients with illness suggestive of brucellosis should include details about food ingested recently in addition to the usual questions about travel and occupation. As the US domestic-animal disease comes under better control, and travel to Mexico, Spain, and Italy increases, it seems likely that human disease caused by B melitensis will become relatively more common.