title: Notes from the Field: Fatal Infection Associated with Equine Exposure - King County, Washington, 2016.
abstract: On March 17, 2016, Public Health-Seattle & King County in Washington was notified of two persons who received a diagnosis of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) infections. S. zooepidemicus is a zoonotic pathogen that rarely causes human illness and is usually associated with consuming unpasteurized dairy products or with direct horse contact (1). In horses, S. zooepidemicus is a commensal bacterium that can cause respiratory, wound, and uterine infections (2). The health department investigated to determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify risk factors, and offer recommendations.
authors.forename: Vance
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rietberg
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lipton
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eckmann
authors.forename: Maryann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oltean
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rothschild
authors.forename: Miwako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Beneden
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duchin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014861:Washington; D015047:Zoonoses