Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on May 26, 2026
A cluster of Brucellosis from raw cheese has been reported in Los Angeles County.
When a cluster of brucellosis illnesses was identified, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health initiated an investigation. A common food was identified. That is when they discovered the raw cheese connection.
While the investigation is ongoing, very little information is available to the public.
Here is what we know so far about the outbreak of brucellosis from raw cheese in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County has not released many details regarding this cluster of brucellosis from raw cheese. There are, however, some details we can report.
Brucellosis is the rare illness caused by infection with Brucella bacteria. It is sometimes called “Malta fever,” “Mediterranean fever,” or “undulant fever.”
Complicating matters most is the long incubation period (anywhere from one to four weeks and up to six months) and the non-specific symptoms.
The long incubation period makes connecting a food source to the illness more complicated.
Symptoms of brucellosis can be hard to pin down to the rare illness. That is, unless you have symptoms severe enough to seek medical attention and mention to your health care provider your raw dairy consumption.
Specialized tests are required to determine if you infection is caused by Brucella bacteria.
Common symptoms include:
Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to serious illness and severe chronic infection.
The standard treatment protocol for brucellosis involves 6 weeks of doxycycline and rifampin, in addition to 14 to 21 days of streptomycin.
Pediatric or pregnant patients often receive additional treatment.
If you have recently consumed raw dairy products or have other risk factors, your health care provider will likely start treatment right away. Even before confirmatory laboratory results have arrived. This helps reduce potential risks for additional complications.
Brucellosis is rather rare. But it is highly infectious. It does not take much to become sick and the germ is easily aerosolized. In fact, laboratories require physicians to alert them if brucellosis are suspected when submitting specimens. They are handled differently to protect the laboratory technician.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health indicate that they receive fewer than 15 cases each year. Most of which are linked to unpasteurized imported cheese, those who work with animals abroad, or accidental laboratory exposures.
In the United States, brucellosis is rare. That is not the case in other parts of the world. Somewhere between 1.6 and 2.1 million new cases of human brucellosis are estimated across the world each year.
Brucellosis is often under reported.
This is due to several factors.
The wide range of nonspecific symptoms often lead to misdiagnosis. So symptoms are often attributed to other illnesses. Additionally, diagnostic laboratory facilities and the trained personnel necessary to diagnose the disease effectively are not available in all parts of the world. Especially in areas where Brucella bacteria are endemic.
According to a press release, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says that “while the risk to the general public at this time is low, this cluster of a rare infection is an important reminder that consuming raw or unpasteurized dairy products carries significant risk of infection.”
So, what exactly does unpasteurized cheese or dairy products mean?
Raw milk, raw cheese, or raw dairy products are terms used for products made from milk that has not been pasteurized. Meaning, it has not undergone heat treatment through a process that kills potential illness-causing germs often associated with dairy products. Germs like the Brucella bacteria indicated in this outbreak of brucellosis from raw cheese in Los Angeles County.
But it isn’t new technology.
Pasteurization is a widely used process invented in 1864, by the namesake inventor, Louis Pasteur. Pasteur discovered a way to heat treat beverages in order to kill harmful microorganisms. The types of microorganisms responsible for diseases such as listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Q fever, E. coli infections and brucellosis.
The original intent for pasteurization was to help increase the shelf life and reduce spoilage of beer, wine, and other beverages. As you can imagine, a pressing issue of the time.
Today, it is most commonly associated with milk. Though juices and certain shelf stable foods are also commonly pasteurized. Historically, many foodborne illnesses prior to pasteurization were linked to milk and dairy products. A problem that has almost entirely been eradicated since widespread use of pasteurization.
In fact, since the mainstream application of pasteurization, the number of milk-related outbreaks has decreased from 25% to only 1%. With 70% of those outbreaks involving raw milk.
Raw milk is risky because without the heat treatment of pasteurization, potential germs found on dairy farms can make their way into the milk and sicken the consumer.
If you or a family member has become sick with brucellosis from raw cheese in Los Angeles County, the Brucellosis Lawyers at The Lange Law Firm can help! They can answer questions, investigate your illness, and file a claim to recover the financial burden associated with your illness.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has recovered millions of dollars for families with cases just like yours. With a specialty in contamination, products liability, and food safety cases, you can trust the Brucella and Raw Milk Lawyers of The Lange Law Firm, PLLC to navigate this complicated legal process on your behalf.
They know the questions to ask, the information to obtain, and how to build your case. Their compassionate team will help you through this unfortunate situation and get you the justice you deserve.
Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to fill out an online submission form to get started today with a free consultation.
Don’t wait! Contact The Lange Law Firm, PLLC today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)