Brucellosis in pregnancy: unpasteurised dairy, travel and what to do

You may have seen brucellosis on a list of things to avoid in pregnancy and wondered what it is. It is very rare in the UK. Here’s where it comes from, what it can do and how to avoid it.

What is brucellosis?

The NHS describes brucellosis as an infection you can catch from unpasteurised milk and cheese, or from contact with infected animals. It is an infection that spreads from animals to people, and the NHS says it is very rare in the UK.

How you can catch it

According to the NHS, the main way is by drinking milk or eating dairy products from infected animals that have not been pasteurised (heat-treated to kill bacteria). Less often, people catch it by:

Eating contaminated raw or undercooked meat.
Contact with the bodily fluids of infected farm animals, such as cows, goats, sheep and pigs, or with infected dogs.

Spread from one person to another is very rare. Most UK cases follow travel to countries where it is common (UKHSA). UKHSA recorded 31 cases in England in 2024, and the cases with a known history mostly followed travel to countries where the infection is common. In practice, that means unpasteurised dairy eaten abroad, or contact with livestock, are the situations to be careful about.

Symptoms

The NHS says symptoms can come on suddenly over a day or two, or slowly over several weeks. They are like flu and can include a high temperature, loss of appetite, sweating, headaches, extreme tiredness, and back and joint pain.

What it can mean in pregnancy

The NHS page doesn’t cover pregnancy, but the CDC says that exposure to Brucella during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage. It also says travellers who are or might be pregnant should take extra precautions.

This is a rare infection, and most people who eat dairy or meat in the UK are not at any risk from it. Knowing about it matters mainly if you are travelling, working with farm animals, or buying unpasteurised products.

How to avoid it

Don’t drink unpasteurised milk or eat dairy products made from it. The NHS lists unpasteurised milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and ice cream (cow’s, sheep’s and goat’s) as foods to avoid in pregnancy. This also helps you avoid listeria. See what you can and can’t eat in pregnancy.
Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat. The NHS says poultry and pork should have no trace of pink or blood after cooking.
When travelling, the CDC advises avoiding unpasteurised dairy, undercooked meat and potentially contaminated meat products where the disease is found in animals.
Avoid contact with livestock and wild animals in places where brucellosis is a problem. If you live or work on a farm, ask your midwife or GP what to avoid during pregnancy, such as helping with births.

There is no vaccine for people.

If you think you have been exposed

The NHS says to see a GP if you have symptoms and have had unpasteurised milk or dairy abroad, eaten raw or undercooked meat, or work closely with farm animals, and to tell your GP if you have recently travelled overseas. Tell them you are pregnant. It is usually diagnosed with a blood test.

The NHS says brucellosis is treated with antibiotics for at least 6 weeks, and it stresses finishing the whole course even if you feel better. Some antibiotics are not suitable in pregnancy, so treatment is best planned with an infectious diseases or obstetric specialist. Don’t start or stop any medicine without advice. Doctors have a legal duty to report suspected cases to the local health protection team, which is standard and not something you need to worry about.

Questions people ask

I had a little unpasteurised cheese abroad. Should I worry?

Please don’t panic. Infection is rare. Tell your midwife or GP, and see a GP if you develop flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, sweating, headaches or joint pain. Mention that you are pregnant and what you ate.

Is pasteurised cheese safe?

Pasteurised dairy is not a usual source of brucellosis, because pasteurisation kills the bacteria. The NHS lists many pasteurised soft cheeses, such as mozzarella, cottage cheese and cream cheese, as safe in pregnancy. Some mould-ripened and blue cheeses need to be cooked thoroughly first.

Can brucellosis be passed to my baby?

Passing it on is rare, but reports exist of a baby catching it through breast milk. Ask your GP or midwife for specialist advice, especially if you were exposed during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Is it safe to be around farm animals when pregnant?

Many people live and work on farms. The NHS says to avoid contact with livestock and wild animals where brucellosis is a problem and to wear protective clothing when handling animals, especially sick ones. Ask your midwife or GP for advice that fits your work.