Brucellosis Linked to Mexican Cheese

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.