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What did Robert Koch conclude in 1901 about bovine tuberculosis infecting humans?
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Robert Koch
Best known for demonstrating that specific microorganisms cause specific diseases, German bacteriologist and physician helped to confirm the germ theory of disease.
In 1901, Robert Koch reported on his research regarding the pathogenicity of the human tubercle bacillus in domestic animals. He concluded that the transmission of tuberculosis from cattle to humans was so rare that he believed it was unnecessary to implement specific measures against it.1
This conclusion was ultimately rejected by commissions of inquiry in both Europe and America. While Koch was incorrect in this assessment, his report stimulated extensive and important subsequent research, which eventually led to the development of successful prophylaxis measures.1