Scientists' suspicions about a possible change in the behaviour of the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis and its transmission from human to human tend to be confirmed, as the number of human cases in Europe records a significant increase with patients not reporting contact with animals.
The bacterium was put under the microscope of the European Center for Infection Control (ECDC) at the beginning of the year when it was found that it had shown changes and while until now it was considered an organism that affects animals and very rarely people who come into contact with them, cases began to be detected in people who were not related to cattle and other domestic and wild animals.
A month ago, the ECDC included the monitoring of this bacterium in its epidemiological surveillance report and yesterday issued a special report which, among other things, includes recommendations to EU member states.
Dermatophilus congolensis causes the skin bacterial disease "dermatophilosis" and refers mainly to cattle, although it also affects other domestic and wild animals. Until now it was considered a zoonosis, with very rare transmission from animals to humans and with most known cases being linked to contact with cattle, sheep, goats or a polluted environment.
In the last two years, however, health authorities in several European countries have begun to record dozens of cases in humans without a history of contact with animals. For this reason, scientists in Europe have begun, in turn, to seriously consider the possibility of human-to-human transmission through close skin contact.
The disease manifests itself mainly with skin lesions, such as:
Small rashes,
Pustules,
Irritation,
Scales or itching that appear, mainly on the genitals, face, or other parts of the body that come into close contact with other people's skin.
In most cases it does not cause fever or other severe symptoms and is effectively treated with common antibiotics, while it is particularly important that to date no serious complications or deaths have been recorded from the cases investigated in Europe.
According to the ECDC's rapid risk assessment, at least 70 confirmed cases have been recorded in France, Germany, Spain and Sweden, with additional cases reported in Norway and Austria. Specifically, by June this year, 40 cases had been reported in France, 17 in Germany, 9 confirmed and 5 under investigation in Spain, 4 in Sweden, 10 in Norway and 17 cases in Austria. The majority of patients were gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
The incidents in Norway were related to martial arts activities, with patients exposed to the bacterium, either in Norway, in the summer of 2025, or during a trip to Thailand in January 2026. In Austria, the bacterium was detected in ten people in 2025 and in seven by mid-2026.
"This rapid risk assessment was carried out to assess the current situation, as this infection is an unusual phenomenon in humans," the ECDC said.
The overall risk to the general population, for now, it is added, "is assessed as very low, taking into account the low incidence due to the mild clinical course of the disease".
The likelihood of infection, "increases in homosexuals, bisexuals and other men who have sexual contacts with men, who have multiple sexual partners and visit places where sex is provided".
In conclusion, the ECDC makes recommendations to member states, in view of the summer season, during which the movement of citizens between member states and other parts of the world increases.
Therefore, according to the competent European Center, "states must continue epidemiological and microbiological investigations to better characterize transmission routes, risk factors and the extent of spread".
It is also recommended to "raise awareness among doctors and clinical laboratories to support early identification, testing, early access to treatment and case reporting".
The ECDC, given the increased risk for specific groups of the population, recommends the "implementation of targeted risk communication and prevention advice for gay, bisexual and other men who have sexual contact with men, including sending messages about dermatophilosis".
Pustules,
Irritation,
Scales or itching that appear, mainly on the genitals, face, or other parts of the body that come into close contact with other people's skin.
In most cases it does not cause fever or other severe symptoms and is effectively treated with common antibiotics, while it is particularly important that to date no serious complications or deaths have been recorded from the cases investigated in Europe.
According to the ECDC's rapid risk assessment, at least 70 confirmed cases have been recorded in France, Germany, Spain and Sweden, with additional cases reported in Norway and Austria. Specifically, by June this year, 40 cases had been reported in France, 17 in Germany, 9 confirmed and 5 under investigation in Spain, 4 in Sweden, 10 in Norway and 17 cases in Austria. The majority of patients were gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
The incidents in Norway were related to martial arts activities, with patients exposed to the bacterium, either in Norway, in the summer of 2025, or during a trip to Thailand in January 2026. In Austria, the bacterium was detected in ten people in 2025 and in seven by mid-2026.
"This rapid risk assessment was carried out to assess the current situation, as this infection is an unusual phenomenon in humans," the ECDC said.
The overall risk to the general population, for now, it is added, "is assessed as very low, taking into account the low incidence due to the mild clinical course of the disease".
The likelihood of infection, "increases in homosexuals, bisexuals and other men who have sexual contacts with men, who have multiple sexual partners and visit places where sex is provided".
In conclusion, the ECDC makes recommendations to member states, in view of the summer season, during which the movement of citizens between member states and other parts of the world increases.
Therefore, according to the competent European Center, "states must continue epidemiological and microbiological investigations to better characterize transmission routes, risk factors and the extent of spread".
It is also recommended to "raise awareness among doctors and clinical laboratories to support early identification, testing, early access to treatment and case reporting".
The ECDC, given the increased risk for specific groups of the population, recommends the "implementation of targeted risk communication and prevention advice for gay, bisexual and other men who have sexual contact with men, including sending messages about dermatophilosis".
