Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC? Human brucellosis, a neglected zoonotic disease, causes more than 500,000 new cases each year globally. The disease is of major public health concern in China, and northern provinces are traditionally endemic areas. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This is the first published outbreak of occupational brucellosis involving multiple clusters in Hubei Province. This investigation characterizes the transmission chain of the outbreak and reveals that provinces south of the Yangtze River are faced with a series of challenges and hurdles to overcome including, but not limited to, health education, law enforcement, and occupational protection. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? In addition to measures aimed at this outbreak, the local agricultural department has issued special notices based on this investigation to adjust and strengthen local eradication program of brucellosis.