Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an contagiuos disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. The bacteria is passed among animals, and it causes disease in many different vertebrates. Different Brucella species affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria. In humans brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur.

All people, regardless of risk status, should be monitored for the development of symptoms. From the last exposure, temperature should be actively monitored for fever for four weeks. Broader symptoms of brucellosis should be passively monitored for six months from the last exposure.

These symptoms include:
 * Acutely: fever, chills, headache, low back pain, joint pain, malaise, occasionally diarrhea
 * Sub-acutely: malaise, muscle pain, headache, neck pain, fever, sweats
 * Chronically: anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain, joint pain, headache, backache, weakness, irritability, insomnia, depression, constipation.

Humans are infected in one of three ways:
1. eating or drinking something that is contaminated with Brucella
2. breathing in the organism
3. having the bacteria enter the body through skin wounds

The most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking contaminated milk products. When sheep, goats, cows, camels are infected, their milk is contaminated with the bacteria. If the milk is not pasteurized, these bacteria can be transmitted to persons who drink the milk or eat cheeses made it. Inhalation of Brucella organisms is not a common route of infection, but it can be a significant hazard for people working in laboratories where the organism is cultured. Inhalation is often responsible for a significant percentage of cases in abattoir employees. Contamination of skin wounds may be a problem for people working in slaughterhouses or meat packing plants or for veterinarians.

Direct person-to-person spread of brucellosis is rare. Mothers who are breast-feeding may transmit the infection to their babes. Sexual transmission has also been reported. For both sexual and breast-feeding transmission, if the baby or person at risk is treated for brucellosis, their risk of becoming infected will be eliminated within three days. Transmission may also occur via contaminated tissue transplantation.

Preventive Measures
Do not consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream while traveling. If you are not sure that the dairy product is pasteurized, don't eat it. Hunters should use rubber gloves when handling viscera of animals. There is no vaccine available for humans.

Treatment
The treatment can be difficult. Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. Doxycycline and rifampin are used in combination for 6 weeks to prevent reoccuring infection. Depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Mortality is low and is associated with endocarditis.