site.btaEleven Rila Residents Test Positive for Brucellosis

HEleven Rila Residents Test Positive for Brucellosis

Kyustendil, Southwest Bulgaria, July 30 (BTA) - Eleven residents
 of the southwestern town of Rila have tested positive for
brucellosis, Dr. Dinko Dinev of the Kyustendil Regional Health
Inspectorate told BTA Thursday. He explained that the samples
taken from Rila residents, which were sent for testing in Sofia
on Wednesday, have come back positive.

The infected persons are aged 36 to 77 and will undergo
mandatory treatment, follow up and hospitalization.

A brucellosis outbreak was registered in Rila, the local office
of the Food Safety Agency (FSA) reported on Wednesday. One man
was diagnosed earlier with this highly contagious disease and 15
 goats in three farms tested positive.

In humans, brucellosis can be caused by ingestion of
unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat from infected animals.
Symptoms include profuse sweating and joint and muscle pain.
They can be treated with antibiotics. Infected animals are
culled.
 
The Kyustendil Regional Health Inspectorate said that a
brucellosis outbreak is declared for the region of Rila starting
 on Thursday. The local Food Safety Agency office has started
serological testing of all animals in the town and those that
test positive will be euthanized. Animals proven to be sick are
starting to be culled.

An indefinite ban on the consumption of milk, diary and animal
products is introduced on the town's territory. The slaughtering
 of animals and their movement to and from Rila is also
prohibited.