Brucellosis is not a viral disease

Submitted by TemoL on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 07:05

Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Adviser on Animal Health Dr. Ken Cokanasiga said that the Brucellosis disease that currently infects some dairy farms in Wainivesi in Tailevu North is not caused by a virus but by bacteria.

Dr. Cokanasiga made the clarification when a daily newspaper stated on its front page yesterday (02/07/09) that the disease is caused by a virus.

“Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various bacteria of the genus Brucella, which tend to infect specific animal species including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, horses and humans”, Dr. Cokanasiga said.

“It is not a virus or a respiratory disease where it can be transmitted through the air by sneezing or coughing. It is a disease of the reproductive system that can also infect the udder and contaminate the milk, and also be transmitted by infected bulls to other cows during mating”, he explained.

Dr. Cokanasiga clarified that the disease was typically spread “when an infected animal aborts or gives birth”; and high levels of bacteria are found in the birth fluids, afterbirths and discharges associated with an infected animal”, he explained.

The bacteria can survive outside the animal for several months, particularly in cool moist conditions and other animals can be infected by ingesting the bacteria while grazing. While animals typically recover, and will be able to have live offspring following the initial abortion, they may continue to shed the bacteria.

Dr. Cokanasiga urged the dairy farming communities to support the efforts undertaken by the officers of the Ministry of Primary Industries to eradicate the disease.

“Brucellosis is not a new disease to Fiji and we had shown in the 1980’s that we can eradicate it or keep it at manageable levels.

There is no need to panic or cause for alarm as we can bring this disease back to manageable levels”.

Dr. Cokanasiga said that the disease was different from that caused by the the Influenza A H1N1 virus as had been implied in some circles, and the signs and symptoms in both animals and humans are very different from any influenza like infections.

“Pasteurization of infected milk will kill the bacteria and render it safe for public consumption”.

He pointed out that the Rewa Cooperative Dairy Company has pasteurization facilities to kill the bacteria and keep its milk safe. He also said that any meat from animals slaughtered through Fiji’s registered abattoirs is safe for public consumption.

Dr. Cokanasiga stressed that whilst the officers of the Ministry of Primary Industries are working around the clock to contain the disease, the general public also has a role to play to avoid infection or its spread.

“I am urging the general public not to panic but cooperate with the eradication team to eradicate this disease as quickly as possible”.

“It is important that animals from farms identified to be infected are not moved elsewhere to avoid the spread of the disease. Farm hands and animal health workers in these affected farms must ensure they are adequately protected when handling potentially infective materials and practice good personal hygiene.

“Those buying milk must source their milk from pasteurized sources only and avoid consuming raw milk” as raw milk from infected animals can be potential sources of infection."

Meanwhile the Ministry of Primary Industries has put in place a strategy to eradicate the disease from the infected areas. It has completed confirmation of the identification of the disease and has commenced the quarantine of infected premises including the testing of animals in other farms to establish its presence and spread. The culling of these infected animals will then follow.