Rare transmission mode of FSME (tick-borne encephalitis) by goat's milk.

An infection presumed to have been transmitted by raw cow's milk was reported in Southern Styria (Remschnig locality), furthermore an FSME infection was demonstrated in two patients as having been transmitted by raw goat's milk. Both patients (an elderly couple) had no left their house or garden and had nourished themselves mainly with goat's milk. Neither patient had evidence of tick bites. The goats were severely parasitized with Ixodes ricinus; the place of dwelling lies in an FSME-natural foci region.