Deadly Brucellosis spreads to humans in Kerala from infected cattle

 

Kerala State Health Department has confirmed that the deadly zoonotic disease brucellosis has spread to humans in Palakkad from infected cattle of a farm run by the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s (KVASU). After the outbreak was officially confirmed, the government has ordered mass culling of infected cattle in the farm to check the spread. 

 

 As many as four persons, including a young woman, have sought medical care with symptoms of Brucellosis (undulant fever)  a bacterial disease transmitted from animals. The infected persons are undergoing treatment at Govt. Medical College, Thrissur after lab tests confirmed that they had contracted the disease. 

 

Brucellosis 

 An infectious disease caused by Brucella bacteria. 

• Brucella bacteria infects the reproductive organs of the animal. Results abortions and sterility in the animal. 
•  The bacteria can be present in urine, milk, and other bodily fluids. 
• Can spread to humans by consuming milk and meat of the infected animal. 
•  Proper cooking of meat and milk can kill the bacteria. Cooking above 85 degree Celsius destroys the bacteria.

Symptoms of brucellosis in humans. 

• Fever, sweating, headache, anorexia, muscle pain. 

​Infects the humans through: 

•  cuts in the skin, air and food.  
•  mucous membranes 
• conjunctivae. 

 

• (source: news-medical.net)
   

Health Department officials, however, said that there was no need for panic and that the disease will not be transmitted from humans. Officials say that brucellosis will not spread like bird flu and is completely curable if detected in the first stage.

 There are reports that the farm officials had discovered the outbreak in the cattle months back, but chose to keep silence about it. More than 80 heads of cattle are infected with brucellosis in the farm, and all of them would be slaughtered as a precautionary measure. The Health Department has also initiated mass disinfection drive in the farm and the surrounding areas. 

Meanwhile, PTI reports that The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has directed the KAVU to stick to the norms of euthanasia and to avoid cruelty while culling the animals of the farm. The infected animals should not be transported from the present farm, the board wrote to the university. The university had plans to shift the infected animals to its campus in Mannuthy in Thrissur.