Brucellosis in Nigeria: The Fever from Animals You Should Know About

The Fever That Mimics Everything

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans — through contact with infected livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, camels), consumption of unpasteurised milk or cheese, or handling of animal birth products. It is endemic in Nigeria, particularly in the north and among those with occupational animal exposure, yet is massively underdiagnosed because its symptoms are non-specific and standard malaria/typhoid treatment doesn't work.

How Brucellosis Presents

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• Fever — classically "undulant" (waves of fever and apparent recovery), but can be continuous
• Profuse night sweats — a cardinal symptom
• Severe joint and muscle pain
• Fatigue (see our guide to chronic fatigue in Lagos) and malaise out of proportion to apparent fever
• Headache
• Enlarged spleen and lymph nodes
• In chronic cases: back pain (spondylitis), liver involvement, or neurobrucellosis

Why It Is Frequently Missed in Nigeria

Brucellosis is not on the standard "fever panel" in most Nigerian hospitals. It is repeatedly treated as malaria or typhoid without improvement. Without specific serological testing (Brucella agglutination or ELISA), diagnosis is not possible. FXMed can arrange Brucella serology for patients with appropriate exposure history and unexplained prolonged fever.

Treatment

Brucellosis requires combination antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks: typically doxycycline plus rifampicin, or doxycycline plus streptomycin. Single-drug treatment leads to relapse. FXMed prescribes and monitors treatment, ensuring the full course is completed and monitoring for relapse or complications.

Prevention

Avoid raw milk and fresh cheese from uninspected sources. Use protective equipment when handling livestock or birth products. Book a consultation with FXMed if you have unexplained prolonged fever and animal exposure.