Brucellosis, Transmission from Animals to Humans
Symptoms Include Fever and Headache... Also Affects the Reproductive System
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] In Gansu Province, northwest China, over 3,000 people contracted brucellosis due to negligence at a brucellosis vaccine production plant.
According to China Xin Jingbao on the 16th, after a brucellosis outbreak occurred last December at the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou authorities tested 21,847 residents by the 14th of this month, confirming that 3,245 people were infected with brucellosis.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. It is usually transmitted to people through livestock such as cattle and sheep. When a person contracts brucellosis, symptoms such as fever and headache appear, and it is known to affect the reproductive system as well.
According to the authorities' investigation, this infection occurred because Zhongmu Lanzhou Biological Pharmaceutical Factory used expired disinfectants during the production of animal brucellosis vaccines from July to August last year.
Due to the disinfectant issue, waste from the production and fermentation facilities was not properly sterilized, and waste containing brucella bacteria was dispersed outside in aerosol form.
The authorities believe that at that time, the southeast wind mainly blew in the area, causing researchers at the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute and local residents in that direction to become infected through inhalation or mucous membrane contact.
The authorities stated, "This was an accidental incident with short-term exposure," and added, "The responsible organizations have been investigated and held accountable."
In January, the authorities revoked the vaccine production license of the plant and canceled the approval of seven types of animal vaccines produced at this factory.
The factory halted operations on December 7 last year. In February, it issued an apology and announced plans to proceed with compensation efforts.
As public concern grew in China regarding patient treatment and compensation, this incident ranked first on Weibo's (China's version of Twitter) real-time search list.
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