Declining Incidence of Brucellosis

Brucellosis incidence in the country has seen a considerable decline since 2014, as per official statistics.

In 2014 and 2015, around 20,000 and 19,400 people were affected by the chronic disease respectively. The figure dropped to 14,970 in 2016 and the decline is expected to continue further this year.

“The decreasing trend is slow but important” said Mohammad Mehdi Guya, head of infectious diseases department at the Health Ministry.

Brucellosis or undulant fever is most common in central, western, northwestern and northeastern areas of the country

According to Guya, Kermanshah and Hamedan provinces were among the most successful regions in controlling the illness.

“The decreasing trend indicates that the collaboration between the Health Ministry, universities of medical sciences and Iran Veterinarian Organization and the support by governorates has been effective,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Brucella that characteristically causes rising and falling fevers, sweats, malaise, weakness, anorexia, headache, myalgia (muscle pain) and back pain. The disease is called undulant fever because the fever is typically undulant, rising and falling like a wave.

The highly contagious zoonosis disease is usually associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk and soft cheese made from the milk of infected animals and with occupational exposure of laboratory workers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers.

   Precautions

Hygienic precautions during livestock breeding and the use of pasteurized dairy products will reduce the risks of catching the disease.

The Health Ministry has initiated a program under the Systematic Comprehensive Health Education and Promotion model (SHEP model) to raise awareness about the illness since three years.

The SHEP scheme involves teaching ordinary people, especially students and young people about modern methods of tending livestock, improving the conditions of corrals or animal enclosures, hygienic methods of milking and slaughtering.

“The method has been successful in changing people’s behavior in rural areas and among the farming populace,” said Guya.