On August, 27, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced an imported brucellosis case in a 35-year-old Indonesian female caretaker. On August 3, when the case developed fever, lower back pain and immobility, her employer took her to a clinic for medical assistance. During August 7 and 10, when her symptoms persisted, she sought further medical attention at a hospital and was hospitalized. Brucellosis infection was laboratory confirmed in the case. As of now, the case is still hospitalized for medical treatment. None of her close contacts residing in the same household has developed suspected symptoms.

According to the epidemiological investigation, the case had not left Taiwan after she arrived in May last year. In addition, she had not traveled to other cities or counties in Taiwan recently and had not consumed unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat and raw food. Nevertheless, the incubation period of brucellosis varies from weeks to months (even up to half a year). Although it has been 15 months after the case arrived in Taiwan, her test results indicates that she might have been previously infected and her current infection is likely a relapse of her previous infection. Hence, the case was determined to be an imported case. Further, brucellosis is not endemic in Taiwan. During May and October 2011, five imported cases from Africa, Southeast Asia and China were reported in Taiwan.

Brucellosis is a zoonosis; the pathogen exists in the tissues, blood, and milk of infected animals. Humans can become infected by coming in contact with contaminated animal tissues, consuming dairy products or exposing to the bacteria in laboratories. Human to human transmission is uncommon. The incubation period of brucellosis varies from one week to a few months. The symptoms include intermittent or irregular fever and influenza-like illnesses such as fever, sweating, headache, back pain and weakness in limbs. The infection may affect the central nervous system in severe cases. Brucellosis is primarily endemic in the Mediterranean Region, East Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East. Outbreaks have previously occurred in some dairy farms in South East Asia.

People visiting the above-mentioned high-risk areas are advised to avoid consuming raw meat and unpasteurized dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. Travelers are also advised to avoid close contact with animals and seek immediate medical attention when feeling unwell. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).