Tick-borne encephalitis from eating goat cheese in a mountain region of Austria

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Oct;15(10):1671-3. doi: 10.3201/eid1510.090743.

Abstract

We report transmission of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in July 2008 through nonpasteurized goat milk to 6 humans and 4 domestic pigs in an alpine pasture 1,500 m above sea level. This outbreak indicates the emergence of ticks and TBEV at increasing altitudes in central Europe and the efficiency of oral transmission of TBEV.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Cheese / virology*
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / transmission*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases / transmission
  • Goat Diseases / virology
  • Goats
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Milk / virology*
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / blood
  • Swine Diseases / immunology
  • Swine Diseases / transmission