What is the Brucellosis outbreak in China? Can the bacterial infection be transmitted?

More than 3,000 people in rth-western China have tested positive for a dely bacterial infection named Brucellosis, an outbreak that was caused by a leak at a biopharmaceutical company last year. National Health Commission (NHC) of Lanzhou confirmed that at least 3,245 citizens have been diagsed with disease, usually caused by drinking unpasteurised milk or undercooked meat from an animal infected with brucella bacteria. However, infection can also spre by inhaling bacteria, which may have caused outbreak in Lanzhou.

How did Brucellosis occur?

According to an international media report, China's Zhongmu Lanzhou biological pharmaceutical factory was working on finding a vaccine against brucella bacteria to use for animal. In span between July to August 2019, biopharmaceutical factory failed to ericate bacteria in waste gas after y used expired disinfectants and sanitizers.

Leaked into air, waste gas formed aerosols which contained bacteria and infected Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute as per reports. LVRI began reporting brucellosis infections from vember onwards which n spre furr. 

RE | After COVID-19, China Reports Brucellosis Outbreak; 3,245 People Test Positive

What are symptoms of Brucellosis?

disease is caused by a group of bacteria from  genus Brucella. bacteria can infect both humans and animals such as sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, and dogs, etc.

Symptoms of brucellosis disease may include:

• Frequent fever
• Heache
• Abdominal pain
• Joint, muscle and back pain
• Fatigue
• Cold
• Sweat
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss

As per Center for Disease Control (CDC), some of se symptoms can be present for prolonged periods of time.

RE | After ults, Chinese Drugmaker Sivac To Begin With CoronaVac Vaccine Trial On Teenrs

How do people contract Brucellosis?

Consuming raw dairy products is most common way to be infected with Brucellosis. But infections can also be spre through air or by coming direct contact with infected animals. bacteria can enter body through open wounds or mucous membranes. As per  CDC, person-to-person spre of brucellosis is extremely rare, however, lactating mors who are infected with bacteria may transmit disease to ir infants. Tissue transplantation or blood transfusions may be or ways of transmitting bacteria, although sexual transmission has been rarely reported since outbreak.

Complications of disease

Brucellosis involves various health complications as it can affect almost all parts of body - such as heart, liver, central nervous system, and reproductive system. According to health experts, infection can also result in inflamed testicles, causing infertility in men.

A person infected with brucellosis may suffer from arthritis, endocarditis (infection of heart’s inner lining), encephalitis (brain inflammation), meningitis (inflammation of membranes around your brain), etc. fatality rate for disease is about 2%.

RE | China: Thousands Infected With Bacterial Disease After Leak At Biopharmaceutical Factory

Treatment and prevention

Brucellosis is usually treated with antibiotics such as rifampin and doxycycline. A person suffering from disease may take a few weeks or several months to recover, depending on timing of treatment and severity of infection.

Avoiding consumption of unpasteurised dairy products and taking safety precautions such as wearing rubber gloves while handling animals or working in labs can help in reducing risk of contracting brucellosis. Or preventive measures include cooking meat thoroughly, vaccinating domestic animals, etc.

RE | Coronavirus Reinfection Can Take Place, ICMR mits; ds 'it Is A Rare Occurrence'