Epidemiological indices and trend of incidence of human brucellosis in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province from 2009 to 2016

The epidemiologic examination of brucellosis can play an important role in the plan to control the disease in the next years and also in interventional plans and resource allocations. The current study was conducted to determine some of the epidemiologic indices and the trend of human brucellosis throughout the years 2009 to 2016.

This was a cross-sectional study. The statistical population consisted of patients affected with brucellosis and whose diagnoses were made during the years 2009 until 2016 in the Khorasan Razavi province. All potentially or certainly diagnosed cases were found online from all the registered patients at medical centers, hospitals, laboratories, and private clinics in all districts in the Khorasan Razavi province. Then, the data was gathered through epidemiology exploring disease forms based on the national program of standing against Brucellosis.

The data relevant to 16255 cases reported in an 8 year period were analyzed. The cumulative percentage of the disease was observed in the 25– 44 (34%) and 16 – 24 (19.2%) year-old age groups, respectively. In terms of occupation, the highest numbers of female cases throughout the study years were seen in housewives and farmer –ranchers. The cumulative percentage of the disease in rural inhabitants and males were 86.4% and 57.4%, respectively. The cumulative percentage based on the history of keeping livestock in one’s residence was 47.9%; and 28.9% and 19.2%, respectively, based on the history of consuming unpasteurized dairy products such as ‘milk’ and ‘milk and cheese’. The highest incidence rate in the province occurred during 2013, at a rate of 42.26 per 100000 persons, and the lowest incidence rate occurred during 2009, at a rate of 20.72 per 100000 persons. The highest incidence during 2009 occurred in Kalat district; during 2010-2011 in Bejestan, 2012-2014 in Khooshab and during 2015-2016 it occurred in Zaveh district.

Based on our findings, the incidence rate of the disease had a rising trend until 2013 and a declining trend from 2014 onwards. Nevertheless, a large number of disease cases still exist in the province. Preventive measures should be taken by health policymakers and healthcare providers of the country to reduce the burden of the disease through solutions like public education, which includes providing information on preventing the infection while in contact with the livestock, learning the necessity and method of good hand washing with soap and water, using gloves while in contact with affected livestock, using face masks while cleaning the affected livestock’s shelter, as well as therapeutic interventions, and screenings during the seasons in which disease transmission is higher.