Brucellosis outbreak due to unpasteurized raw goat cheese in Andalucia (Spain), January - March 2002

C. Mendez Martinez; A Paez Jimenez; M Cortés-Blanco; E. Salmoral Chamizo; E. Mohedano Mohedano; C. Plata; A. Varo Baena; J. F. Martinez Navarro

doi:10.2807/esm.08.07.00421-en

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Brucellosis outbreak due to unpasteurized raw goat cheese in Andalucia (Spain), January - March 2002
C. Mendez Martinez¹ , A Paez Jimenez¹ , M Cortés-Blanco¹ , E. Salmoral Chamizo² , E. Mohedano Mohedano² , C. Plata³ , A. Varo Baena⁴ , J. F. Martinez Navarro¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Programa de Epidemiología Aplicada de Campo. Centro Nacional de Epidemiología. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Madrid, Spain ² Servicio de Epidemiología. Distrito Sanitario Montilla-Lucena-Cabra. Lucena, Córdoba, Spain ³ Servicio de Microbiología. Hospital "Infanta Margarita". Cabra, Córdoba, Spain ⁴ Servicio de Epidemiología. Delegación Provincial de Córdoba, Spain

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Citation style for this article: Mendez Martinez C., Paez Jimenez A, Cortés-Blanco M, Salmoral Chamizo E., Mohedano Mohedano E., Plata C., Varo Baena A., Martinez Navarro J. F.. Brucellosis outbreak due to unpasteurized raw goat cheese in Andalucia (Spain), January - March 2002. Euro Surveill. 2003;8(7):pii=421. https://doi.org/10.2807/esm.08.07.00421-en

Abstract

Eleven brucellosis cases were identified in three municipalities of Cordoba (Andalucia, Spain). A case-control study was conducted, selecting three cases per control. Persons having eaten unpasteurized raw goat cheese produced in a farmhouse located in the epidemic territory, were at higher risk for presenting brucellosis ( OR=21.6, IC95%=1.6-639.8). Brucella melitensis serovar 3 was identified in clinical specimens and in goat tissue and milk samples from the herd's farmhouse. Preventive measures were implemented and the outbreak was stopped after the withdrawal of all suspicious cheeses from the market, additional sanitation of the farmhouse and health promotion activities.