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Annual report National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, 2004
In 2004, 36 cases of brucellosis were reported to the
NNDSS, giving a national notification rate of 0.2 cases
per 100,000 population. This number of notifications
lies in the middle of the range observed over the previous
13 years (13–54 notifications). Most cases were
reported from Queensland (26 cases; 72 per cent;
Map 9), with a further 19 per cent of cases reported
from New South Wales (7 cases), and 8 per cent of
cases reported from Victoria (3 cases). There is little
evidence of a trend in the national or Queensland
notification rates of brucellosis over the last 13 years
(Figure 56). Most cases were male (n=32, male to
female ratio 6.4:1), and of these, 22 were aged
between 20 and 39 years.
Among the nine reported cases for whom species
data were available, four cases (all from Queensland)
were identifi ed as Br. suis which is endemic in feral
pigs in Australia. Four cases were identifi ed as
Br. Melitensis (all overseas acquired). Ovine and
caprine brucellosis (Brucella melitensis) has never
been reported in Australian sheep or goats. 39 One
case was identifi ed as Br. abortus (‘undulant fever’);
which was presumably acquired overseas. Bovine
brucellosis (Brucella abortus) was eradicated from
the Australian cattle herd in 1989 39 and is presently
considered an exotic animal disease in Australia.
Figure 56. Trends in notification rates of
brucellosis, Australia and Queensland, 1991 to
2004
Rate per 100,000 population
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
Year of notification
Queensland
Australia
Map 9. Notification rates of brucellosis, Australia 2004, by Statistical Division of residence
64 CDI Vol 30 No 1 2006