Thassos: brucellosis should not worry travelers

sheeps in greece All of a sudden, the Eastern European TV stations are filled with information about an epidemic going around Thassos. While the Bulgarian Tourism Board recommended the citizens to avoid the island, the Romanian Tourism Board recommended that both travelers who want to go to Thassos and travel agencies which sell vacations in Thassos should be “calm” and not worry about the so-called epidemic.

What’s the real story after all? Yes, there were instances of brucellosis in Thassos, mostly among locals who ate non pasteurized food from their own production. But it hasn’t affected the tourists at all. The tourists are asked not to eat anything from the rural markets or produced in the locals’ homes, which includes milk and cheese (yes, feta). Also, it’s advisable not to visit the farms in the mountains.

How do humans get infected with brucellosis? There are three ways to get infected: eating or drinking something which has been infected with Brucella; inhaling the bacteria; or have the bacteria enter the body through a skin wound. But the most common way to get infected is by eating or drinking contaminated milk from sheep, goats or cows. If the milk is not pasteurized the bacteria can pass to the human eating the contaminated milk or cheese.

If you follow the simple rules presented above you don’t have to worry about getting infected. So, stop worrying and start enjoying your vacation in Thassos!