site.btaTwo New Brucellosis Cases in Town of Rila, Outbreak Declared in Region

Two New Brucellosis Cases in Town of Rila, Outbreak Declared in Region

Kyustendil, Southwest Bulgaria, July 30 (BTA) - Two other
persons from the town of Rila have tested positive for
brucellosis, Dr. Dinko Dinev of the Kyustendil Regional Health
Inspectorate told BTA Thursday. The patients were tested for the
 disease after being admitted to hospital.

A brucellosis outbreak was registered in Rila, the local office
of the Food Safety Agency (FSA) reported on Wednesday. One man
was diagnosed 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.

Dinev said that the samples for the two new cases were taken
last week. The test results of the other nine Rila residents,
which were sent to Sofia on Wednesday, have still not come out.
They are expected on Friday at the earliest, however, according
to data of the National Centre for Contageous and Parasitic
Disease, the results will most likely be positive.
 
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 prohibition 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 banned.