Long ignored but making a comeback: a worldwide epidemiological evolution of human brucellosis

Authors:
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Brucellosis is a commonly neglected zoonosis that remains a serious global public health concern. The epidemiological evolution of human brucellosis has considerably changed over the past few decades, and epidemic geography is continuously expanding. Human brucellosis is emerging and re-emerging, and is imported from areas where it is endemic due to travel, immigration, and international trade. The disease continues to be prevalent in Asia and Africa, including West Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, and East Africa, with the highest incidence in Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Iran, Algeria, and Kenya. Re-emerging cases are frequently recorded in places where brucellosis has been controlled, such as Bosnia, Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, and the USA. In countries with a high disease burden, disease control and eradication have been extremely difficult because of livestock farming being the only source of livelihood, unique religious beliefs regarding animals, nomadic lifestyle, and low socioeconomic levels. Interventions focused on protecting livestock keepers are needed, particularly for those assisting with goat and sheep births and the consumption of raw dairy products. Notably, in most countries with a high disease burden, each period of several years with a low incidence rate was followed by a subsequent increase in cases, highlighting the necessity of continuous investment and surveillance. In addition, advocacy for the inclusion of brucellosis as a globally mandated reported disease, strict restrictions on animal movement, mandated consumption of pasteurized milk, and health education are needed. This study will help form an evidence-based strategy for international organizations to curb the future spread of brucellosis.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (L2124006)
  • Research on the Development Strategy of Engineering Technology in the Medical and Health Field for the Next 20 Years (90100)
  • National Science and Technology Major Project (2017ZX10303401)
  • Youth Science Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2021SKLID503)

This publication has 79 references indexed in Scilit: