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Brucellosis


Brucellosis in Washington State
Although brucellosis has been eradicated from cattle in Washington since 1988, DOH receives 0 to 3 reports of human brucellosis infections each year, reflecting primarily ingestion of raw milk products in foreign countries.  In years past, a live vaccine was used in animals and veterinarians were occasionally exposed to it.  The newer vaccines (since 1996) do not pose as great a risk, however contact CDES if a veterinarian reports a vaccine exposure.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To assist in the diagnosis and treatment of cases

  • To identify potentially exposed health care and laboratory personnel and to provide counseling

  • To identify sources of transmission (e.g., an infected animal or a contaminated unpasteurized dairy product) and to prevent further transmission from such sources

  • To raise the index of suspicion of a possible bioterrorism event if no natural exposure source is identified

Legal Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Hospitals: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Laboratories:  notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 2 work days; specimen submission required
  • Veterinarians: immediately notifiable to the Washington State Department of Agriculture or to the local health jurisdiction.

  • Local health jurisdictions:  notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.  If bioterrorism is suspected, case must be immediately reported to DOH: 1-877-539-4344


Last update

Jan
. 2008

Brucellosis Resources

General Information

Fact Sheet
(Web format)
Brucellosis
Incidence Rates

(PDF format)

Reporting Forms

Brucellosis
Reporting Form

(Word Format)
Brucellosis
Reporting Form

(PDF Format)

Public Health and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(PDF format)

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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Consultation and technical assistance are available to local health jurisdictions in Washington State:
Phone (206) 418-5500

FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (inside Washington State only)  1-877-539-4344

Washington residents can contact their local health jurisdictions for assistance


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