Brucellosis has earned its place alongside syphilis and tuberculosis as one of the ‘great imitators’ and causes of pyrexia of unknown origin.

Carefully consider travel and animal exposure history in all patients with undiagnosed febrile illnesses.

In patients with risk factors for leptospirosis, a high index of clinical suspicion is important to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.

A man aged 41 years was brought to hospital with fever, sweats, headache, myalgia, arthralgia and increasing confusion of six days’ duration.

All Australian bats have the potential to carry and transmit lyssavirus, and risky exposures to bats are common. Timely notification following exposure is crucial to ensure appropriate management.

Q fever is the most commonly notified zoonotic disease in Australia, with the majority of cases reported from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.