Greece is again first in the EU in cases of brucellosis

In our country, the notification rate was 8 times higher than the EU/EEA average.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, published the report of brucellosis cases for 2022. In 2022, reported 199 confirmed cases brucellosis in the EU/EEA. The report is based on data for 2022 retrieved from the European Surveillance System (TESy) until 1 February 2024. TESSy is a system for collecting, analyzing and disseminating data on communicable diseases. The highest number of confirmed cases, accounting for 81% of all cases reported in the EU/EEA. EU/EEA were from 6 Member States (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain).

Brucellosis is an infection caused by Brucella bacteriawhen contaminated animal products are consumed (unpasteurized milk and dairy products or undercooked meat) or from contact with infected animals (sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and dogs). Brucellosis occurs worldwide, but in the Mediterranean region it is more pronounced.

Symptoms are both general such as fever, weakness, joint pain, and organ specific including infections of the brain and heart valves. Without treatment, brucellosis can become chronic or lead to death. Brucellosis remains a rare but serious disease in the EU/EEA, with the majority of cases being hospitalised.

As in previous years, Greece reported the highest notification rate (0.33 cases per 100,000 population). The number of cases in our country was 35 in 202224 in 2021, 30 in 2020, 65 in 2019 and 97 in 2018.

According to EODY in the period 2005-2020 the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, mainly of their own production, was reported in 57% of cases in Greece.

The highest rates were found in men over 65 years of age (0.08 per 100,000 population) and in women between 45-64 years of age (0.04 per 100,000 population).