Human brucellosis in South Africa: Public health and diagnostic pitfalls

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 106; no. 9; pp. 883 - 885
• Main Authors: Wojno, Justyna Maria, Moodley, Clinton, Pienaar, Jaco, Beylis, Natalie, Jacobsz, Lourens, Nicol, Mark P, Rossouw, Jenny, Bamford, Colleen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Health & Medical Publishing Group 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Brucella melitensis - isolation & purification; Brucellosis; Brucellosis - diagnosis; Brucellosis - epidemiology; Brucellosis - prevention & control; Brucellosis - veterinary; Communicable Disease Control - methods; Communicable Disease Control - organization & administration; Communicable Disease Control - standards; Diagnostic Errors - prevention & control; Disease Notification - methods; Disease Notification - standards; Distribution; Female; Forecasts and trends; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Intersectoral Collaboration; Male; Public health administration; South Africa - epidemiology; Veterinary Medicine - methods; South Africa

Human brucellosis in South Africa (SA) is under-diagnosed and under-reported. This is because many clinicians have little or no experience in managing affected patients, and in part because of the nonspecific and insidious nature of the disease. A case of human brucellosis caused by Brucella meliten...