Brucellosis is an infection you can catch from unpasteurised milk and cheese. It is extremely rare in the UK.

• Drinking milk that has not been pasteurised (heat-treated to kill bacteria).
• Eating dairy products, like cheese and ice cream, made from unpasteurised milk.
• Eating raw or undercooked meat.
• Coming into contact with the bodily fluids of farm animals such as cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. But this is rare.

Brucellosis can be found worldwide; it is more common in countries that do not have effective public health and domestic animal health programs.

Areas currently listed as high risk are the Mediterranean Basin (Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa).

Brucellosis is usually diagnosed using a blood test.

The infection is treated with a course of antibiotics for at least 6 weeks. It's important to finish your course even if you start to feel better.