One person in Texas was hospitalized with brucellosis after drinking unpasteurized raw milk from K-Bar Dairy in Paradise, Texas.

Anyone who consumed milk or milk products from K-Bar Dairy between June 1, 2017 and August 7, 2017 is at risk of brucellosis and should talk to a doctor as soon as possible about diagnostic testing.

Milk samples from K-Bar Dairy tested positive for Brucella RB5, a strain of Brucella that is resistant to penicillin and the antibiotic rifampin, according to a health alert issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Brucellosis can cause symptoms in 5 days, or it can take up to 5 months for symptoms to appear. Patients must be monitored for 6 months.

The symptoms may include fever, sweats, generally feeling unwell (malaise), loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, muscle & joint pain. Infections can potentially cause serious complications, such as neurologic symptoms, as well as swelling of heart, liver, or spleen.

There is no blood test for Brucella RB5, so patients will need to have their blood cultured in a laboratory to see if it grows the bacteria.

People who were exposed to Brucella RB5 should undergo a 21-day Post-Exposure Prophylactic (PEP) regimen of both doxycycline and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, according to the CDC. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their healthcare provider.

Source: Rifampin/Penicillin-Resistant Strain of RB51 Brucella Contracted from Consumption of Raw Milk

Posted by Elizabeth Bradley

Lifelong consumer advocate. Pop culture nerd. Grammar evangelist. Wannabe organizer. Travel addict. Zombie fan.