Italian Raw Milk Cheese Outbreak Claims Five Lives

Five people died and 23 were hospitalized in Italy due to an outbreak of Streptococcus zooepidemicus caused by consuming unpasteurized fresh cheese produced from contaminated cow's milk. The outbreak was linked to raw milk cheese and was considered the largest and most severe outbreak associated with it in Italy. Investigations and whole genome sequencing found unpasteurized fresh dairy products were the outbreak source. Local authorities established measures to limit and prevent the spread of Streptococcus Zooepidemicus.