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The Lanzhou Health Commission in Northeast China’s Gansu Province has announced (translated by computer) that 3,245 people have been confirmed positive for the bacterial disease, brucellosis linked to an outbreak caused by a leak at a company biopharmaceutical last year.
The outbreak started from a leak at the Zhongmu Lanzhou biological pharmaceutical factory last summer.
Health officials say that as of Sept. 14, 21,847 people were tested, of which more than 3,000 were confirmed.
In December 2019, a joint investigation showed that the Zhongmu Lanzhou Biological Pharmaceuticals Factory used expired disinfectants and disinfectants in the production of the Brucella vaccine and aerosols formed by contaminated waste gases containing the bacteria that was carried by the wind to the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, where the outbreak first struck.
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In January, the factory’s production license for the brucellosis vaccine was revoked. Seven veterinary pharmaceutical product approvals were canceled.
The Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical Factory issued a “letter of apology” in February, saying it had “severely punished” eight people who were found responsible for the incident.
Brucellosis is a contagious disease of animals that also affects humans. The disease is also known as Bang’s disease. In humans, it is known as undulating fever and Maltese fever.
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Brucellosis is one of the most serious diseases of livestock, considering the damage that infection causes in animals. Decreased milk production. weightloss, loss of young, infertility and lameness are some of the effects on animals.
Brucella species are named for their primary hosts: Brucella melitensis is found primarily in goats, sheep, and camels, B. abortus is a livestock pathogen, B. suis is primarily found in pigs, and B. canis is found in dogs.
There are two common ways that people become infected with brucellosis. First, individuals working with infected animals that have not been vaccinated against brucellosis. This would include farmers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians.
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They become infected by direct contact or by aerosols produced by infected animal tissue. B. abortus and B. suis are the most common.
The second way is by ingesting unpasteurized dairy products.
Brucellosis is also an occupational hazard for laboratory workers who handle samples improperly or have an accident or spill. Brucella is highly infectious in aerosol. to form.
If someone becomes infected with Brucella, the incubation period is about 2-3 weeks, although it could be months. Fever, night sweats, severe headache and body aches and other nonspecific symptoms can occur.
Acute and chronic brucellosis can cause complications in multiple organ systems. The skeleton, central nervous system, respiratory tract, liver, heart, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts can be affected. Untreated brucellosis has a 5% mortality rate.
