LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Department of Health are alerting people, particularly those who regularly work or handle livestock and animals, to be cautious following confirmation of a case of Brucellosis in the Giyani area, where a livestock farmer died after having been diagnosed with the disease.
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Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Brucella. The bacteria can spread from animals to humans. The infection is acquired through ingestion or direct contact such as touching, splashes onto mucous membranes, inhalation (breathing in) of contaminated animal products.
NOTE that infection with Brucella species is not spread from person to person.
Spokesperson for the department, Neil Shikwambana, says the farmer contracted the diseases after he was reported to have drank unpasturised (unboiled) milk from his cattle.
What you need to know about Brucellosis disease:
Brucellosis can be contracted through eating undercooked/uncooked meat or consuming unpasteurized/raw dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream), or coming into contact with an infected animal.
Bacteria can also enter wounds in the skin/mucous membranes through contact with infected animals. This includes people who have close contact with animals or animal excretions (newborn animals, fetuses, and excretions that may result from birth) such as slaughterhouse workers, meat-packing plant employees, veterinarians, farmers and hunters (inhaling the bacteria while dressing their game).
The people most at risk include infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as: people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV, than it is for healthy older children and adults.
Signs and symptoms:
According to the department, symptoms of Brucellosis can begin suddenly, or slowly. The incubation period is highly variable, usually lasting 2-4 weeks but can be one week, two months or longer. Disease signs and symptoms are non-specific and can include: Profuse sweating mostly during the night, fever, extreme tiredness, aches in bones and joints (especially with the lower back, hip or knee joints).
Some signs and symptoms may persist for longer periods of time or reoccur. These can include recurring fever, arthritis, swelling of the testicle and scrotum area, swelling of the heart (endocarditis), chronic fatigue, depression and swelling of the liver and/or spleen.
Ways to combat Brucellosis disease:
Prevent infection by ensuring that you do not consume any undercooked/uncooked meat or unpasteurised/raw dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream). “If you are not sure that the dairy product is pasteurized, do not eat it,” advises the department.
People who handle animal tissue (such as hunters and animal herdsman) are urged to wear rubber gloves, goggles, gowns and aprons in order to ensure that bacteria from potentially infected animals does not get into their eyes or inside a cut or abrasion on the skin.
“As Government, we encourage anyone who experiences any signs and symptoms to visit your nearest health clinic. For animal health, please visit your nearest animal health technician, state veterinarian or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,” concludes Shikwambana.
