Do I Have Brucelllosis?

Have you eaten any raw (unpasteurized) dairy products, such as milk or goat cheese or undercooked meat?

Does your job involve contact with animals or with animal tissues (slaughterhouse workers, meat-packing employees, veterinarians, laboratory workers)?

Have you traveled to countries other than the United States during the past year such as Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Mexico, South and Central America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, or the Middle East?

Have you gone hunting recently?

Do you have a fever of 38C or above (with high "spikes" that usually occur in the afternoon)?

Do you have night sweats?

Do you feel weak, exhausted or fatigued?

Do you have poor appetite and weight loss?

Do you have a headache?

Do you have muscle, joint or back pain?

Do you have repeated episodes of fever that recur on and off for more than a year (undulant fever)?

Do you have swollen lymph glands?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have brucellosis. Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Brucella. Brucellosis is transmitted from infected animals to humans through direct contact or consumption of contaminated animal products. Commonly, people get brucellosis by eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy products (milk and cheese products). Brucellosis is rare in the United States, but is common in Southern and Eastern Europe, Mexico, South and Central America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. If you are staying in one of these countries and order beef or pork in a restaurant, be sure to ask that the meat be cooked to well-done.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have brucellosis. Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by a type of bacteria known as Brucella. Brucellosis is classified as a zoonotic infection, which means that it is a disease commonly found in animals and can be transmitted to humans. The three main types of Brucella bacteria come from cattle, goats and sheep. The bacteria can enter your body when you eat or drink contaminated unpasteurized milk, dairy products or undercooked meat, or through a cut on the skin if you have been in contact with an infected animal (veterinarians, hunters). Diagnosing is based on blood tests.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have brucellosis. Brucellosis is also known as Mediterranean fever or Rock fever. It is a contagious disease that can be spread from infected animals to humans. The most commonly infected animals include sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and dogs. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than half a million reported cases of brucellosis in the world every year. The symptoms of brucellosis can be vague and similar to the flu. Treatment includes antibiotics and symptoms management therapy. Depending on the severity of the disease, recovery may take from a few weeks to a few months.