title: Outbreak investigation of brucellosis in Thassos, Greece, 2008.
abstract: In spring 2008, the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention was notified about human brucellosis cases in Thassos, a Greek island that had been up to that point under a brucellosis eradication programme. Following the verification of the outbreak a 1:1 case– control study was conducted in the island. The study revealed that consumption of locally produced raw cheese was a risk factor for Brucella melitensis infection (odds ratio (OR): 15.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.56–34.7). Brucella melitensis biotype 3 was identified in two clinical samples. As a result of the outbreak, the island is no longer officially considered as an area with farms free of brucellosis and is currently under a brucellosis control programme. The investigation of this outbreak demonstrated that control and eradication of brucellosis is not only a question of designing a strategy, but rather of ensuring its continuous, strict implementation. Furthermore, it revealed the lack of appropriate education of the public regarding the risks associated with raw, non heat-treated cheese consumption.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mellou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gkolfinopoulou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dougas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theocharopoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vourvidis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellinas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sotolidou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vorou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors