Mexico: Brucellosis cases increase in Jalisco
The Jalisco Ministry of Health (SSJ) has reported 20 confirmed cases of brucellosis so far this year, with a higher incidence in the municipalities of Autlán, La Barca, Ameca, Guadalajara, and Zapopan. Additionally, 130 suspected cases have been recorded, leading to the activation of epidemiological surveillance protocols throughout the state to prevent the spread of the disease.
Last year, Jalisco recorded 310 suspected cases and 68 confirmed cases, leading to a strengthening of prevention strategies for 2025.
Brucellosis in people is mostly caused by four species of Brucella bacteria. Most people get it through close contact with infected animals, often cows, pigs, feral swine, or dogs, or through consumption of contaminated animal products, including uncooked meat and raw milk products. Due to the long incubation period for Brucella, cases often don't have symptoms until weeks or months after exposure.
Brucellosis is generally characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:
Brucellosis in people cannot be diagnosed by clinical symptoms alone as initial symptoms are non-specific and can vary between patients. Laboratory testing is required to confirm a diagnosis.
Symptoms of brucellosis may include fever, joint pain, headache, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and focal organ involvement (endocarditis, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly), among others.
The infection can often be treated with antibiotics. However, treatment takes several weeks to months. And the infection can come back.
To reduce the risk of getting brucellosis, take these precautions:
Don't eat dairy foods that haven't been treated, called pasteurized. In recent years in the United States, few cases of brucellosis have been linked to raw dairy products from domestic herds. Still, it's best to avoid unpasteurized milk, cheese and ice cream, no matter where they come from. If you're traveling to other countries, avoid all raw dairy foods.
Cook meat all the way. Cook a whole cut of meat until it reaches an inside temperature of 145 Fahrenheit (63 Celsius). Let it sit for at least three minutes before cutting or eating. It will be medium done. Cook ground meat to 160 F (71 C). That's well done. Cook poultry, including ground poultry, to 165 F (74 C). Don't eat undercooked meats.
Wear gloves. If you're a veterinarian, farmer, hunter or slaughterhouse worker, wear rubber gloves when handling sick or dead animals or animal tissue. Wear gloves when helping an animal give birth.
Take care in high-risk workplaces. For laboratory work, make sure all biosafety conditions are being met. Slaughterhouses should also take protective measures. These include wearing protective clothing and having the killing floor apart from other work areas.
Vaccinate farm animals. In the United States, brucellosis in livestock is rare due to vaccination. Because the brucellosis vaccine is live, people who get stuck by a needle while vaccinating animals can get the disease. They need to be treated.