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What is Brucellosis? Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella. The bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans by ingestion through infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. The disease is an old one that has been known by various names, including Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric […]

What is Botulism? Botulism is a disease of humans and animals characterised by muscle paralysis, and is potentially fatal. It is caused by extremely potent neurotoxins produced by the environmental spore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum and rarely, by botulinum toxin-producing strains of some other Clostridium species. There are five different types of botulism characterised by the

What is Blastomycosis ?  Blastomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus Blastomyces. Blastomyces is a thermally-dimorphic fungus meaning it grows as a thread-like mould in the environment and as a yeast (a single-celled fungus) when it causes human infections. The fungus is found in the environment such as moist soil and decomposing organic matter such as wood and

Documents under review. Please contact the Outbreak Response Unit directly: outbreak@nicd.ac.za