¹Institute for Public Health, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; ²Institute for Social Medicine; Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Aim. To present current national promotional and preventive measures and to propose some specific national promotional and preventive measures for control of human brucellosis in the Republic of Macedonia.

Methods. A retrospective approach is used, where data were collected from reports and programmes on prevention of brucellosis, published by the Institute for Public Health (IPH) in Skopje, along with public opinion surveys and scientific literature.

Results. According to the data of the Institute for Public Health in 2008, 490 diseased people suffering from brucellosis were registered in the Republic of Macedonia with certain districts dominating over others. There is an annual Programme for investigation of occurrence, protection from, and elimination of brucellosis and the results from implemented activities are compiled as a national report by the IPH. Health promotion and health education are part of implemented preventive measures. Unfortunately, research conducted in Bitola in 2009 showed that only 50% of the participants actively involved in production and distribution of milk and meat were aware of either the way of contamination or of preventng possibilities of brucellosis.

Conclusion. One of the most effective interventions for primary prevention of brucellosis is health promotion, promotion of a healthy lifestyle from the hygiene aspect, food safety, risk estimation, and application of adequate measures adjusted to the local needs and etiological factors.