Recently an eight-year-old girl from Kottakkal, Malappuram (Kerala), passed away at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, after a two-month battle with brucellosis.

• The infection was linked to the consumption of unpasteurised milk.
• Kerala has reported sporadic cases in recent years.

About Brucellosis 

• Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by Brucella species, primarily affecting cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and dogs.
• Zoonotic Disease: Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses transmitted by animals.
  • Expansion of animal industries and urbanization, and the lack of hygienic measures in animal husbandry and in food handling, partly account for brucellosis remaining a public health hazard.
• Transmission: Humans contract the disease through:
  • Direct contact with infected animals.
  • Consuming contaminated animal products, particularly unpasteurised milk and cheese.
  • Inhalation of airborne bacteria (less common).
• Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• Symptoms of Brucellosis : Fever, Weakness and fatigue, Weight loss and General discomfort or malaise.
• Incubation period: It  ranges from one week to two months, with most cases showing symptoms within two to four weeks.
• Treatment: Brucellosis is treated with a combination of antibiotics, including Doxycycline and Streptomycin.

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Brucella (B. abortus) Life Cycle & Termination

• Host Infection and Persistence: Brucella infects the reticuloendothelial system, where it survives for extended periods.
• Reproductive and  Mammary Invasion: During cattle pregnancy, it invades trophoblasts and mammary glands, leading to extensive replication.
• Transmission: Causes abortion, shedding through milk, placenta, and fetus, which become primary sources of infection.
• Environmental Survival: Survives for weeks in organic material but dies under direct sunlight.
• Prevention: Pasteurization or fermentation eliminates bacteria.
• Epidemiology: Wild animals maintain transmission; humans and horses are dead-end hosts.

Preventive Measures 

• Vaccination of Livestock: Immunization of cattle, goats, and sheep can help control transmission.
• Pasteurisation of Milk: Ensuring milk and dairy products undergo pasteurisation before consumption prevents infection.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating people about the risks of unpasteurised milk and promoting safe dairy practices.
• Regulatory Policies: Enforcing strict regulations on the sale and distribution of unpasteurised milk and dairy products.

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