Controlling Spread of Brucellosis

Table of Contents

A. Isolation and Quarantine Requirements

  • Isolation:     Standard Precautions.
  • Quarantine: None.

B.  Protection of Contacts of a Case

  • Follow Standard and Contact Precautions if the case has draining lesions followed by disinfection of purulent discharges.
  • Licensed Brucella vaccines are currently available only for livestock.

C.  Managing Special Situations

Reported Incidence Is Higher than Usual/Outbreak Suspected

If more than one case of brucellosis is reported or suspected, or an outbreak is suspected, investigate to determine the source of infection and mode of transmission. A common vehicle, such as unpasteurized milk products or infected animals, should be sought and applicable preventive or control measures should be instituted (e.g., removing an implicated food item from the environment). Consult with an epidemiologist at CADE at (800) 362-2736 as soon as possible. The center can help determine a course of action to prevent further cases and can perform surveillance for cases that may cross county lines and be difficult to identify.

Exposure of a Laboratory Worker

Laboratory workers exposed to Brucella (e.g., failure to use the protection of a laminar air flow/biosafety hood), should receive prophylaxis consisting of:

  • Doxycycline 100 mg bid plus rifampin 600-900 mg once daily for 21 days; for conjunctiva  inoculations, prophylaxis should be maintained for 4 - 6 weeks. Consult with an epidemiologist at CADE at (800) 362-2736.

Inadvertent inoculation with Brucella animal vaccine

Veterinarian and others in veterinary practices, farmers and others exposed to Brucella animal vaccine should receive prophylaxis consisting of:

  • Doxycycline 100 mg bid for 21 days; for conjunctiva inoculations, prophylaxis should be maintained for 4 - 6 weeks.
  • Consult with an epidemiologist at CADE at (800) 362-2736.

D. Preventive Measures

  • Pasteurize milk and dairy products.

Environmental Measures

Implicated food items must be removed from the environment. A decision about removing these can be made in consultation with the Department of Inspections and Appeals and CADE officials.

Preventive Measures/Education

To prevent future exposures, advise the following:

  • Do not consume raw (unpasteurized) milk or milk products (including imported cheeses, etc.).
  • Workers at occupational risk (farmers, slaughterhouse workers, meat processors or butchers) should know symptoms of the disease, how it is spread, and the risks of handling infected animal carcasses and products. They should know the proper way to reduce exposure, such as ventilating slaughterhouses and handling carcasses carefully. For more information refer to the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) web site,  www.aphis.usda.gov/
  • Hunters should use barrier protection (gloves or clothing) when dressing wild pigs and burying the remains.
  • Wear gloves and protect skin from secretions or excretions when handling and disposing of placenta, discharges, and fetus from an aborted animal.  Disinfect contaminated areas.

Local officials and farmers should search for infection among livestock and eliminate infected animals. In areas of high prevalence, immunization of livestock may be appropriate. Ultimate control of human brucellosis relies on eliminating the disease in domestic animal populations.

Iowa Dept. of Public Health, Reviewed 7/15