IMMEDIATELY REPORTABLE DISEASE: Any suspected case should be reported immediately by telephone to the Local Health Officer and by the Health Officer to the State Department of Health and Senior Services; include clinical and laboratory information supporting the diagnosis for appropriate investigation and control recommendations.

CLINICAL DESCRIPTION

An illness characterized by acute or insidious onset of fever, night sweats, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, headache, and arthralgia. Brucellosis is predominantly an occupational disease of those working with infected animals or their tissues, especially farm workers, veterinarians, and abattoir workers. Sporadic cases and outbreaks occur among consumers of raw milk and milk products (especially unpasteurized soft cheese). The incubation period is highly variable: usually 5 - 60 days. There is no evidence of communicability from person to person.

1. CONFIRMED
   Clinically diagnosed case (see above) AND one or more of the following:
   
   

   • Isolation of Brucella sp. from a clinical specimen, OR

   • Fourfold or greater rise in Brucella sp. agglutination titer between acute and convalescent-phase serum specimens obtained greater than or equal to 2 weeks apart and tested in the same laboratory, OR

   • Demonstration by immunofluorescence of Brucella sp. in a clinical specimen.
     
     
2. PROBABLE
   
   • Clinically compatible case that is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case, OR

   • A clinically compatible case that has supportive serology (i.e., Brucella sp. agglutination titer of greater than or equal to 160 in one or more serum specimens obtained after onset of symptoms).
     
   
   
3. POSSIBLE
   

Not Used

What you should know about Brucellosis?