(Newser)
– A Chinese pharmaceutical factory has apparently leaked a disease into the air and infected thousands of people, reports Global News. Chinese officials say the factory developed a vaccine for animals with brucellosis, also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean fever. CNN reports that another 1,401 residents returned “early positive” among 21,847 tests in the city of 2.9 million. Government-run media reported the problem late last year, but in small numbers and the factory said eight workers were “severely punished.” Now officials say it’s much worse than they realized.
Authorities blame retired bactericides and sanitizers for the bacterium Brucellosis, which causes brucellosis. The disease is commonly found in dogs, sheep, goats, pigs and cattle, according to the World Health Organization, but it can infect people through air and contaminated food. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, muscle aches and headaches, but the CDC warns that certain effects, such as constipation, arthritis and inflammation of the heart, liver or spleen, will never go away. Brucellosis is largely controlled by vaccines and prevention techniques, but occasional outbreaks are known to afflict livestock around the world. (Bison is slaughtered at Yellowstone in an attempt to control the disease.)
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