Mato Grosso Makes Human Brucellosis Reporting Mandatory
A resolution by Mato Grosso’s Bipartite Interagency Commission, known as CIB-MT, and published in the state’s Official Gazette on September 10, 2026, made reporting of human brucellosis mandatory. The requirement applies to public and private health services as well as laboratories. Suspected or compatible results must be sent to municipal epidemiological surveillance authorities.
Health providers must also record clinical and epidemiological information in the IndicaSUS system. Failure to report can result in penalties under health legislation. CIB-MT said the additional notifications are intended to provide epidemiological surveillance with more information on the disease’s circulation and to support prevention and control measures.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. People can contract it through contact with infected animals or by consuming contaminated products, including unpasteurised milk, cheese and other dairy foods, as well as raw or undercooked meat. Direct or indirect contact with infected animals and inhalation of contaminated particles are also recognised routes of exposure.
Cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and dogs can be involved in human exposure. The Ministry of Health identifies cattle handlers, livestock workers, milk and cheese producers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse employees, slaughterers and laboratory workers among the groups with greater occupational exposure. It also highlights accidents during vaccination of animals against brucellosis, which can infect people handling the vaccines.
Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms may resemble those of other illnesses, while some infections produce no symptoms. Reported symptoms include fever, malaise, heavy night sweating, chills, weakness, tiredness, weight loss and pain in the head, muscles, joints, abdomen or back. The incubation period is normally five to 60 days, although it can be longer in exceptional cases. Without appropriate treatment, the infection can become chronic.
Treatment is available through Brazil’s Unified Health System and uses antibiotics. Prevention measures include drinking only boiled or pasteurised milk, cooking meat and offal thoroughly, using protective equipment when handling animals and maintaining hygiene in animal-production facilities. The reporting rule directly concerns activities linked to milk production, processing and sales in Mato Grosso because the disease can be transmitted through infected animals and contaminated dairy products.
