Brucellosis in the United States, 1970.

Abstract

Abstract The review covers the incidence of human brucellosis in the United States for the period, 1960 to 1970. During this period, the incidence of disease has declined from about 2,000 to less than 200 cases. The prevalence in animal disease, especially in cattle, has dropped precipitously in this period and explains the sharp decline in human disease. Veterinarian authorities hope that by 1976 the country will be free of bovine brucellosis. There is little or no brucellosis in sheep and goats in the United States; the only problem remaining is in swine, where the rate is about one case per 1,000 animals. On the basis of 90 million swine slaughtered annually, this would expose meat dealers to possibly 90,000 infected pigs. It is anticipated that swine brucellosis will receive increasing attention in the decade ahead.