Aim: To analyze and present epidemiological patterns of human
brucellosis cases and the main factors for the appearance and spread of B. melitensis
infection among animals and humans in R. Macedonia in the period from 1980 to 2009.
Methods: Retrospective study based on the epidemiological reports and official
data on brucellosis cases from the Institute for Public Health in Skopje and other institutions
from the health and veterinary sectors in R. Macedonia, and a review of the relevant
literature.
Results: From 1980 until December 2009, a total of 11,451 brucellosis cases
were reported in R. Macedonia, with a mean annual incidence rate of 18.9/100,000. The
highest morbidity rate during this period was recorded in 1992 (922 cases and an incidence
rate of 47.6/100,000), and the lowest one in 1983 (12 cases and an incidence rate
of 0.6/100,000).
From the total number of cases reported in R. Macedonia from 1980 to 2009,
66.2% were males and 33.8% were females. Only 7.2% of patients were under the age
of 10, and the most of the patients were from the age group 20–39 (31.9%). Seasonal
characteristics of the disease were expressed with the highest occurrence in May (15.9%),
June (16.3%) and July (15.1%). Within the total number of 3,284 brucellosis cases in
the period 2001–2009, 2320 (70.6%) were from rural settlements and 964 (29.4%) from
urban areas. 385 of all cases of brucellosis (8.4%) reported in the period 1998-2009 were
from the ranks of professional staff.
Conclusion: Brucellosis was, currently is and will be a significant disease
problem and concern in R. Macedonia which should be approached in a more
comprehensive and organized way in the coming years. There is a need to establish
intersectoral collaboration by joint efforts of all relevant factors in the prevention anderadication of brucellosis, as well as collaboration between all countries in the SEE
region.