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Cases of brucellosis still occurring in France
Although little known, brucellosis is not a stranger to developed countries. In fact, in a country like France, 21 people were diagnosed as suffering from this zoonosis in 2008. But according to French health watchdog the InVS, the trend has been downwards in recent years.
In nineteen of the 21 cases reported in 2008, the illness was imported. Contamination originated in Turkey in 8 cases, Algeria in 6 cases, Italy in 2 cases, with 1 case respectively from Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. All the patients concerned reported having engaged in risk behaviour during their visits to these countries: direct contact with livestock, consumption of untreated milk or dairy products made from untreated milk.
The only ‘home-grown’ case involved a laboratory technician who had handled strains of Brucella, and a patient in regular contact with a many stock rearing farms. The level of risk is obviously much higher for tourists who do not have the same awareness of the need for basic hygiene precautions. It is important to remember never to buy food products that have not been subject to an official health inspection.
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