Brucellosis Outbreak: Why should India be worried?

Team Udayavani, Sep 25, 2020, 6:14 PM IST

While India is still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, another virus seems to be on the horizon.

The new contagious bacterial virus is called Brucellosis. It is a bacterial infection that affects both animals and humans.

According to WHO, brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.

It causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, weakness, malaise and weight loss. Humans can get infected through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated animal products, or by inhaling airborne agents.

According to CDC, while person-to-person spread of brucellosis is extremely rare, breastfeeding mothers who are infected with the bacteria may transmit the infection to their infants.

Brucellosis in India

As reported by News18, the disease has entered India and already has infected animals and humans. Authorities and scientists are worried this would be another pandemic to handle and will pose a greater threat than the current coronavirus.

As Indian’s reliance on cattle agriculture and livestock livelihood is high, we are more prone to the disease than any other nation.

According to researchers, India already has approximately 1 lakh cases of Brucellosis per year. Scientists are worried that this can turn into a pandemic must faster than Covid-19. There is a need for wide testing for brucellosis.