Cattle disease in the Mühlviertel: Two people with brucellosis

Cattle disease in the Mühlviertel: two people with brucellosis

LINZ. The disease spreads: the animals were tested positive on four farms in the region of Urfahr and Rohrbach – four people were also infected, in two cases the disease broke out

Brucellosis Animals like cattle, sheep and goats. (Symbolic picture) Image: Weihbold

For 30 years, animal brucellosis, which can also be transmitted to humans, was considered extinct in Upper Austria. However, in early June, the disease was diagnosed on a dairy farm in the Rohrbach district, while four other Mühlviertler farms are suspected.

It is now known that two people contracted brucellosis. Two other people are infected with the virus, as confirmed by the director of Sanity Country, Georg Palmisano: "The two victims are being treated at the hospital and are in the process of being cured." The disease leads, like a flu, to a high fever. She is treated with antibiotics. The mortality rate is very low.

"The other two people had the pathogen in their lab, but they showed no symptoms," says Palmisano. This applies to 90% of infected people.

Infection with Raw Milk

People can become infected by coming into contact with the body fluids of infested animals or by consuming raw milk. "However, this can be ruled out in these cases because the companies in question do not operate direct marketing," says Palmisano. During pasteurization of milk, pathogens are killed. For the first time, a case of brucellosis occurred in Upper Austria in early June: on the affected farm, the disease was diagnosed in half of the approximately 100 dairy cows. The animals had to be slaughtered to prevent their spread.

Subsequently, a total of 1327 dairy farms were tested in the districts of Urfahr-Umgebung and Rohrbach, including four positive ones. In all other cases, the control was negative.

Blood samples were collected from the affected farms, which are currently being evaluated by the Food and Health Security Agency (AGES). "By the end of the week, we are waiting for the results," said Thomas Hain, Director of Veterinary Services. "Then we know if the suspicion is confirmed or not."

Depending on the outcome, action is taken: Animals that come in contact with the pathogen should be slaughtered. In any case, the products of the farms in question are not placed on the market, animal trafficking is blocked, animal movements are high

In addition, in the surrounding communities, sheep and goat farms are tested to clarify if other animals have been infected. "In countries where brucellosis is still common, such as in the Middle East, it mainly affects sheep and goats," says Hain. However, the cause of the epidemic in Upper Austria is still unknown: "But we are working hard to clarify that." (whale)

Infectious Disease

Brucellosis is caused by several bacteria of the genus Brucella, present throughout the world. They infest many animal species such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses. In cattle, it manifests mainly as stillbirths.

This is a zoonosis, a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa. This is especially true for agriculture

Direct transmission from man to man is very rare. According to the AGES, for example, a blood transfusion would be a possibility of infection.

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