Original scientific paper
Epidemiological Characteristics of Brucellosis in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zarema Obradović
; Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ramiz Velić
; Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
Aim To analyze the frequency and distribution of human
brucellosis in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in
the period 2001-2008, and measures and activities undertaken
for prevention and control of the disease.
Method In this descriptive, retrospective study, we used
official reports on infectious diseases from public health
institutes at the federal and cantonal level, as well as epidemiological
surveys. For comparison with animal brucellosis
cases, we used the distribution data from veterinary
surveillance.
Results Since 2001, the number of infected people has
rapidly increased and brucellosis has become a very important
public health problem. In the period 2001-2008,
there were 1639 human brucellosis cases and the number
of cases increased every year. The morbidity rate over the
study period ranged from 3.8 to 33.4 per 100 000 inhabitants.
According to epidemiological surveys, in villages human
brucellosis was transmitted mostly by contact with
infected animals and their products, and in cities by consumption
of dairy products made from contaminated,
unpasteurized milk. When test-and-slaughter control approach
was used, the prevalence of seropositive livestock
was 4.6% and approximately 70 000 animals were slaughtered
after testing between 2001 and 2008. From 1 June
2009, this approach was replaced with mass vaccination of
sheep and goats.
Conclusion The large number of human brucellosis cases
and seropositive livestock poses a very serious problem
for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The solution may be the introduction
of mass vaccination.
Keywords
Brucellosis; FB&H; epidemiology; preventive measures
Hrčak ID:
58589
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2010.
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