Brucellosis  
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

• Although rare, brucellosis can lead to serious illness.
• Consuming unpasteurized dairy products outside the United States is a common brucellosis exposure.
• Hunting feral swine in states outside of Minnesota can lead to an infection with B. suis. 

In 2023, two confirmed brucellosis cases were reported. One of these cases was a 55-year-old man exposed by drinking unpasteurized milk in East Africa, and the other case was a 77-year-old man who was exposed while hunting feral swine in Hawaii. Complications of brucellosis for one case included sepsis, sacroiliitis, and spondylitis, and for the other case included septic arthritis. They were hospitalized for 33 and 15 days, respectively, and both brucellosis cases in 2023 survived their infection.  

From 2007 to 2023, 53 confirmed brucellosis cases were reported among Minnesota residents. Thirty-two cases likely acquired their infection outside the United States, and 21 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was 3 (range, 0 to 19). Forty-one cases were infected with B. melitensis, nine with B. suis, two with B. abortus, and one with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 47 years (range, 3 to 86 years). Twenty-five of the 49 cases for which race was known were black, 20 were white, and four were Asian/Pacific Islander. Fourteen identified as Hispanic.

• Find up to date information at >> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

• Download: 2023 Confirmed Brucellosis Cases by Year and Type (CSV)

Brucellosis is an acute or chronic illness caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. There are 5 important species of Brucella: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis, for which cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and sheep are the respective reservoir animals. Transmission can occur through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, contact with infected animal tissue, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria in a laboratory setting. Minnesota’s livestock have been brucellosis free since 1985. Most infections are acquired in Brucella-endemic countries. In 2022, five confirmed cases were reported. Three of these cases were exposed in East Africa, one in Saudi Arabia, and one hunted feral swine in Texas. The median age of cases was 46 years (range, 27 to 61 years); three (60%) were male. Complications of brucellosis included one case with sepsis and one case with epididymitis, orchitis, and septic arthritis. All brucellosis cases in 2022 survived their infection. From 2007 to 2022, 51 confirmed brucellosis cases were reported. Thirty-one cases likely acquired their infection outside the United States, and 20 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was three (range, 0 to 19). Forty were infected with B. melitensis, eight with B. suis, two with B. abortus, and one with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 45 years (range, 3 to 86 years). Twenty-four of the 47 cases for which race was known were black, 19 were white, and four were Asian/Pacific Islander. Fourteen identified as Hispanic.

• Find up to date information at>> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

Brucellosis is an acute or chronic illness caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. There are 5 important species of Brucella: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis, of which cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and sheep are the respective reservoir animals. Transmission can occur through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, contact with infected animal tissue, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria in a laboratory setting. Minnesota’s livestock have been brucellosis free since 1985. Most infections are acquired in Brucella-endemic countries. In 2021, 19 confirmed cases were reported. Eleven of these cases were part of an outbreak of brucellosis linked to unpasteurized queso fresco, a homemade soft cheese, likely made with goat milk, imported from Mexico by a private seller and distributed in the Twin Cities. The eleven cases tested positive for Brucella melitensis and B. melitensis was isolated from a sample of the cheese. The median age of outbreak cases was 44 years (range, 16-52 years), 7 (64%) were male, and all were Hispanic. Ten (91%) cases were hospitalized for a median of 7 days (range, 1-13 days). Some cases experienced severe complications, including endocarditis (n=3), sepsis (n=2), splenomegaly (n=1), and hepatitis (n=1). Of the eight sporadic cases, four were exposed in Somalia, one in Ethiopia, one in Russia, and one who ate boar meat from Oklahoma. One case had an unknown exposure location. The median age of sporadic cases was 44 (range, 14-76); 5(63%) were female. Complications of brucellosis among sporadic cases included three (38%) cases who experienced osteomyelitis and three (38%) with sepsis. All 2021 brucellosis cases survived their infection. From 2007 to 2021, 46 confirmed cases were reported. Thirty likely acquired their infection outside the United States, and 16 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was 2 (range, 0 to 19). Thirty-six were infected with B. melitensis, seven with B. suis, two with B. abortus, and one with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 47 years (range, 3 to 86). Twenty of the 42 cases for which race was known were black, 18 were white (of which 11 identified as Hispanic), and four were Asian/Pacific Islander.

• Find up to date information at>> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

Brucellosis is an acute or chronic illness caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. There are 5 important species of Brucella: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis, of which cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and sheep are the respective reservoir animals. Transmission can occur through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, contact with infected animal tissue, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria in a laboratory setting. Minnesota’s livestock have been brucellosis free since 1985; most infections are acquired in Brucellaendemic countries. In 2020, 1 confirmed case was reported. This case was a 10-year-old female infected with B. melitensis. She was hospitalized for 7 days and survived. The case was likely exposed while drinking raw camel milk in Somalia. From 2007 to 2020, 27 cases were reported. Twenty likely acquired their infection outside the United States, and 7 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was 2 (range, 0 to 4). Twenty were infected with B. melitensis, 5 with B. suis, 1 with B. abortus, and 1 with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 49 years (range, 3 to 86). Sixteen of the 26 cases for which race was known were black, 8 were white (of which 2 identified as Hispanic), and 2 were Asian/Pacific Islander

• Find up to date information at>> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

Brucellosis is an acute or chronic illness caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. There are 5 important species of Brucella: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis, of which cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and sheep are the respective reservoir animals. Transmission can occur through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, contact with infected animal tissue, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria in a laboratory setting. Minnesota’s livestock have been brucellosis free since 1985; most infections are acquired in Brucella-endemic countries.

In 2019, 4 confirmed cases were reported; all were infected with B. melitensis. Case ages ranged from 23 to 44 years; 2 were male; all were hospitalized and survived. The exposure for 3 cases was likely ingesting unpasteurized camel milk in Africa, and the exposure for the fourth case was unknown. One case’s isolate resulted in exposure of one clinical laboratory staff person.

From 2007 to 2019, 26 cases were reported. Nineteen likely acquired their infection outside the United States, and 7 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was 2 (range, 0 to 4). Nineteen were infected with B. melitensis, 5 with B. suis, 1 with B. abortus, and 1 with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 49 years (range, 3 to 86). Sixteen of the 26 cases for which race was known were black, 8 were white (of which 2 identified as Hispanic), and 2 were Asian/Pacific Islander.

• Find up to date information at>> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

Brucellosis is an acute or chronic illness caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. There are 5 important species of Brucella: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis, of which cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and sheep are the respective reservoir animals. Transmission can occur through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, contact with infected animal tissue, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria in a laboratory setting. Minnesota’s livestock have been brucellosis free since 1985; most infections are acquired in Brucella-endemic countries.

In 2018, 2 confirmed cases were reported; both were infected with B. melitensis. Case ages were 34 and 49 years; both were male; both were hospitalized and survived. The exposure for both cases was likely ingesting unpasteurized camel milk in Africa. One case’s clinical isolate resulted in exposure of seven clinical laboratory staff.

From 2007 to 2018, 22 cases were reported. Fifteen likely acquired their infection outside the United States and 7 were domestically acquired. The median number of cases reported annually was 2 (range, 0 to 4). Fifteen were infected with B. melitensis, 5 with B. suis, 1 with B. abortus, and 1 with an unidentified Brucella species diagnosed by serology only. The median age of cases was 48 years (range, 3 to 86). Thirteen of the 22 cases for which race was known were black, 7 were white (of which 1 identified as Hispanic), and 2 were Asian/Pacific Islander.

• Find up to date information at>> Brucellosis (Brucella species)

• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).