Brucellosis

Brucellosis is mainly caught by drinking milk or eating dairy products made from milk from infected animals that has not been pasteurised (heat-treated to kill bacteria).

In rare cases you can also catch brucellosis from:

• eating contaminated raw or undercooked meat
• contact with bodily fluids of infected farm animals such as cows, goats, sheep and pigs, or infected dogs

It's very rare to catch brucellosis from other people.

Symptoms of brucellosis may appear suddenly over 1 to 2 days or gradually over several weeks.

The symptoms can be like flu and may include:

• a high temperature
• loss of appetite
• sweating
• headaches
• extreme tiredness
• back and joint pain

You have symptoms of brucellosis and:

• you've had unpasteurised milk or dairy products while abroad
• you've eaten raw or undercooked meat
• you work closely with farm animals
• you have a dog imported from abroad

Tell your GP if you have recently travelled overseas.

Brucellosis is usually diagnosed using a blood test.

The infection is treated with a course of antibiotics for at least 6 weeks. It's important to finish your course even if you start to feel better.

You should make a full recovery, although sometimes the infection can return (relapse).

There's no vaccine against brucellosis for humans, but there are things you can do to reduce your chances of getting it.

• avoid contact with livestock and wild animals while travelling in places where brucellosis is a problem

• wear protective clothing if working with or handling animals, particularly if they're unwell

• put a plaster on any wounds before touching animals

• do not drink unpasteurised milk

• do not eat dairy products, like cheese and ice cream, made from unpasteurised milk

• do not eat raw or undercooked meat

Brucellosis is usually caused by eating or drinking unpasteurised dairy products. It can also be caught from contact with animals, but this is rare.

Symptoms of brucellosis can include a high temperature, loss of appetite, headaches, extreme tiredness and back or joint pain.

Brucellosis is treated with antibiotics. Most people make a full recovery.

You can reduce the risk of brucellosis by avoiding contact with animals in places where it's a problem, and not eating unpasteurised dairy products.