News: Thousands of people in China have tested positive for brucellosis after a leak at a biopharmaceutical company.
Facts:
- Brucellosis also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean fever is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
- Transmission: Humans generally acquire the disease through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.Person-to-person transmission is rare.
- Symptoms: The disease causes flu-like symptoms including fever, weakness, malaise and weight loss.
- Treatment: The infection can usually be treated with antibiotics. However, treatment takes several weeks to months and the infection can recur.
