Twenty-two cases were reported to have been acquired abroad. Brucellosis due to B. melitensis has never been reported in animals in Great Britain. An outbreak of brucellosis caused by B. abortus occurred in 1993, due to imported infected cattle. This was eliminated by slaughter of infected cattle and tracing of contacts. There are very few reports of indigenously acquired human cases of brucellosis in Great Britain because almost all milk is pasteurized and the program to eradicate bovine brucellosis has been successful.
Most cases are chronic infections acquired at work.
Acute imported human infections continue to be reported,often associated with the consumption of raw milk or cheese. Brucellosis may not be considered early in the course of the disease and diagnosis may therefore be delayed. WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record , Vol 70, No 43, 1995.