Incidence, Mortality, and Burden of Human Brucellosis and Its Geographical Distribution in Iran during 2009-2015

Background: Human brucellosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide. This study aimed at estimating the incidence, mortality, and burden of human brucellosis as well as its distribution in Iran from 2009 to 2015. Methods: Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) index was used to estimate the burden of human brucellosis. To calculate DALYs, years lost due to disability (YLDs) was added to years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs); they were calculated based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) formula recommended by the WHO. The data on incidence and mortality were collected from the national surveillance system of brucellosis disease in the Center for Communicable Diseases Control (CCDC), Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), expert panels, and related literature. Results: There is an increasing trend in human brucellosis-related DALYs (34.6 per 100,000 in 2009, and 71.4 per 100,000 in 2015), incidence (88450 in 2009, and 198030 in 2015), and mortality (244 in 2009, and 578 in 2015) from 2009 to 2015. Human brucellosis-related DALYs, incidence, and mortality were higher among males than females. About 51% of DALYs was attributed to YLLs. The burden of human brucellosis disease was not equally distributed among all provinces of Iran and it was largely concentrated in a number of provinces. Conclusion: Burden of human brucellosis is significantly high in Iran, and it has also increased during the recent years. It is alarming for health system managers and policymakers, and they are recommended to pay more attention to this issue.