Humans can be infected and die, and the disease has public health significance is eastern Europe, Asia, Asia Minor and North Africa. The disease has been eradicated from North America. The acute form is characterized by a high fever, septicemia, respiratory signs and a thick nasal discharge, with death in a few days. Chronic disease can occur in surviving horses with ulcerating nodules on the skin and nasal cavity, and nodules in the lungs. These animals are carriers and spread the organism.
Control is by quarantine, disinfectionn and elimination of carrier animals.
A diagnostic mallein test can be used to detect infected animals.