Camel Brucellosis: A neglected zoonotic disease

Considered one of the world's most widespread zoonoses and a threat to human and animal health, brucellosis is a neglected disease. Reported for decades in African, Near and Middle Eastern countries with high prevalences, camel brucellosis has not received the appropriate attention from scientists as it has in cattle and small ruminants. Infection is transmitted to humans mainly through the consumption of raw milk from infected animals or the handling of runts, thus posing a significant health risk for consumers and breeders alike. It is responsible for economic losses in livestock farming in countries where it is rife, and its transmissibility to humans makes it a threat to public health. Those involved in human and animal health should step up campaigns to raise awareness of brucellosis among livestock farmers and the general public. The key to controlling human brucellosis lies in controlling the disease in animals. To achieve this, all stakeholders involved in animal and human health need to be involved, in line with the "One Health" approach.