Brucellosis (Malta fever)
Brucellosis, also called Malta fever, is a bacterial infection that people catch from animals such as sheep, goats, cows and camels. In Afghanistan it is usually caught by drinking raw milk or eating fresh cheese (panir) made from unboiled milk. It causes a long-lasting fever that comes and goes, and without proper treatment it can affect the joints, spine and other organs for months.
Symptoms
- Fever that comes and goes, often worse in the evening
- Heavy sweating, especially at night
- Joint pain and back pain
- Tiredness and weakness
- Headache
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Pain and swelling of the testicles in men
Causes
- Brucella bacteria from infected sheep, goats, cows or camels
- Drinking raw (unboiled) milk
- Eating fresh cheese, cream or yoghurt made from raw milk
- Touching animal birth fluids, afterbirth or aborted animals with bare hands
- Working with livestock or in slaughterhouses
Prevention
- Always boil milk before drinking it or making yoghurt, cheese or cream
- Avoid fresh cheese made from raw milk
- Wear gloves when helping animals give birth or handling an aborted animal