Brucellosis
What is brucellosis?
Brucellosis is an infection caused by Brucella bacteria. Brucellosis is acquired from direct or indirect contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products (including unpasteurised milk and dairy products).
Symptoms appear within 5-60 days of infection and include:
- fever
- weakness
- joint pain
- infections in the brain
- infection of the heart valves
If the disease is not treated, it may become chronic or even lead to death.
Brucellosis spreads to humans from animals, particularly sheep, goats and cattle and rarely from dogs and pigs through direct or indirect contact. Brucellosis occurs worldwide, but in the EU it is mostly reported in some southern European countries.
It is possible to prevent brucellosis, through:
- animal vaccination
- test and slaughter of infected animals
- pasteurisation of milk and dairy products
Prolonged antibiotic treatment is usually effective.
Expert information
Disease overview
EU case definition