Severe headache after consuming raw milk? Test for brucellosis

Humans should avoid drinking raw milk and unpasteurised milk products. [iStockphoto]

Many milk consumers are not aware of brucellosis, a disease mainly caused by the consumption of unboiled raw milk and other dairy products and eating undercooked meat and meat products.

Dr Mulei Muema, an epidemiologist, at Washington State University Global Health-Kenya and a PhD Fellow, at the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Nairobi explains that brucellosis is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) caused by a bacterium from the genus Brucella that affects livestock, wildlife, and humans.