Epidemiology of BrucellosisDefinition: a systemic bacterial disease. It is zoonotic and occupational disease

Public health significance and occurrence

disease naturally occurring between animals in man, it is highly prevalent among farmers, workers, veterinarian, abattoir workers and lab

workers sporadic cases and outbreaks may occur among consumer of raw milk and raw milk product Worldwide distribution, especially in Mediterranean countries of Europe, north and east Africa,

Middle Eastern countries. Infections differs according to geographic area and animal species in Egypt it is endemic, even with increasing incidence as there are imports of different animals

from different countries

Magnitude of the problem

Brucellosis is the commonest zoonotic infection worldwide as it has been reported in 56 countries. more than 500,000 new cases of brucellosis are reported annually.

the reported annual incidence rate of human brucellosis in endemic areas worldwide varies from <0.01 to >200 cases per 100,000 population.

In the year 2005, the annual incidence rate per 100,000 population was: 160.30 in Syria, 60.60 in Mongolia, 26.20 in Turkey and 21.40 in Saudi Arabia

The epidemiology of human brucellosis has dramatically changed over the last 25 years, because of various sanitary, socioeconomic and political reasons in addition to the evolution of international travel in the era of globalization.

Several areas that had been traditionally considered to be endemic such as France and Latin America, have achieved control of the disease and In certain countries such as Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Jordan, the incidence of brucellosis has decreased significantly.

On the contrary, the incidence is on the rise in countries like Turkey, Algeria in addition to several areas in South Europe and Africa, while the situation in other countries such as Syria has been rapidly worsening.

Despite the adopted control measures, the disease is still present, in varying trends, both in Europe and in the USA.

MME regions are considered the most important areas for the historic development and the concentration of zoonoses. Twenty five countries in the Middle East keep record of the disease and 6 of them report 90,000 cases per year

causes and explanations for the resurgence and the recent increase in the incidence of brucellosis include:

o socioeconomic changeso wars and political turbulence in some MME countrieso inadequate control programs in some countrieso ease of human international travel recentlyo uncontrolled animal transportation across open borders and o brucellosis being a complex disease that has different cycles of expansion and regression

The risk factors for Brucella infection include: o consumption of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products, o direct contact with animals and their products, o Brucellosis is an occupational disease that poses risk to: shepherds, abattoir workers,

veterinarians, diary-industry professionals and personnel in microbiology laboratories.