20 Persons Contract 'goat Disease'

[george]

20 persons contract 'goat disease'; smuggled animals slaughtered in brucellosis outbreak

BANGKOK: -- Nearly 1,400 goats smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar have been culled and slaughtered in Kanchanaburi following the first major outbreak of brucellosis in 30 years, according to Agriculture and Cooperatives and Public Health Ministries officials.

Twenty workers from a goat milk dairy and meat farm in Kanchanaburi province have been infected, along with one government animal husbandry worker.

Agriculture Minister Khun Ying Sudarat Keyaraphan said on Tuesday the Maboonkrong Dairy Goat Farm has been declared an outbreak area and 1,363 goats smuggled from "a neighbouring country" were culled after being infected with the bacteria.

In an attempt to allay fears about a reemerging infectious disease, brucellosis, which two years ago returned for the first time in 30 years, the Public Health Ministry assured the public that the disease cannot be transmitted from human to human nor cause miscarriages.

Dr. Kumnuan Ungchusak Bureau of Epidemiology Director, said there were 20 people reported infected so far, with all but one are workers in the farm, who had direct contact with infected goats and other products from the animals such as meat and raw milk.

The other infected persons was an extension official from the provincial animal husbandry center, according to Dr. Kumnuan.

He said the disease had previously been a problem until the mid-1970s, but was not indicated in medical records from then until 2003 when the disease reemerged in four patients found in the central province of Ratchaburi and three patients in the southern province of Satun were reported last year.

However, Dr. Kumnuan assured the public that there has been no case of human-to-human transmission.

"There is also no evidence that it can cause miscarriage," Dr. Kumnuan said. "Those who are at high risk are persons who have direct contact with the animal or animal products that are contaminated with the bacteria."

The epi-emiology director said that the bacteria can be destroyed at temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius; therefore, eating cooked goat meats or drinking pasturised milk is safe.

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella.

These bacteria are primarily passed among animals, and they cause disease in domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, swine, and well as dogs. Wild animals, too, can be infected and can be carriers.

In humans brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms similar to influenza and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness.

Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur.

Khun Ying Sudarat vowed to punish any officials who allowed illegal smuggling of the animals.

--TNA 2005-09-06

[texan_cowboy]

That’s not too funny but I could not help but to laugh. As it will make cows, or bovine sterile "Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. " Really does make a heck of a mess, for breeders.

The reason for the laff is the money, just for a few bucks those knotheads would destroy the whole business. Makes it kinda easy for someone with half a brain to make money. I have 400 head of goats for sale “CLEAN” any taker?

Oh I forgot

"There is also no evidence that it can cause miscarriage," Dr. Kumnuan said. "Those who are at high risk are persons who have direct contact with the animal or animal products that are contaminated with the bacteria."

I think this boy needs to catch up on his animal science it can cause a host of problems some say it’s just a bacteria infection, but the genetics have a way of really making a problem. Girls watch out for this baloney it can cost you your unborn child’s life.

But then I am only a cowboy not a scientist I only have experience, I didnt read some silly book that is normally wrong.

Edited September 6, 2005 by texan_cowboy

[george]

BRUCELLOSIS OUTBREAK: 2,000 goats to be slaughtered

KANCHANABURI: -- Infections in 19 farm workers prompt largest-ever mass-culling in Kanchanaburi. About 2,000 goats will be culled today at the country’s biggest goat farm, in Kanchanaburi province, to prevent the spread of the infectious disease brucellosis, a senior Livestock Development Depart-ment official said yesterday.

Samart Jaralyanon, provincial chief for livestock development, said the culling at Mahboonkrong Dairy Goats Co was ordered yesterday by the department’s director-general. It will be the first time animals are culled in such large numbers, he said.

The transport of all of the farm’s products, such as live goats, dairy products and meat, were also banned under the same order.

Samart said goat dairy products already available on the market were safe to eat, because the bacteria was killed by pasteurisation.

Dr Pakdi Bhotisiri, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, confirmed that goat dairy products already on the market were not contaminated.

Samart said more than 700 goats had been killed at the farm since the infectious bacterial disease was first discovered in March.

The farm was declared an epidemic control zone last Thursday. Humans can be infected through direct contact with secretions of infected goats.

Samart said the farm also raised goats for meat, even though it was registered as a dairy farm. He said only goats raised for meat would be culled, because there were no reports of infection among the farm’s 2,500 dairy goats.

The director-general of the Livestock Development Department will inspect the farm today with an adviser to the agriculture minister. The farm’s manager also invited journalists to visit at the same time.

Twelve men and seven women who worked at the farm have so far been infected with the disease.

Dr Surapong Tanthanasri-sakul, head of public health for the province, said a special centre was set up at Phra Piya Hospital to care for those infected. He said the disease could be cured with a six-week regimen of antibiotics.

Dr Thawat Suntrajarn, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said it was not necessary for infected humans to be quarantined, because there were no reports of human-to-human transmission.

A special team of doctors was sent to the farm to find out how the workers had become infected. The disease can lead to spontaneous abortion in goats. In humans, it can affect the reproductive system but is not known to induce spontaneous abortion.

--The Nation 2005-09-07

[sriracha john]

What's the current punishment for someone that smuggles in 2,000 infected livestock that end up seriously jeopardizing the health of 20 workers as well as hundreds of product consumers, re-introduces a disease into the country that had been eliminated for 30 years, and costs untold amounts of baht for the culling while putting other workers for the Agricultural Ministry at risk?

a 100 baht fine, perhaps?

[george]

"Goat disease"surfaces in Yala, imported from central provinces

YALA: -- Twenty-four goats were culled in this southern province in the last few months after they were infected with the bacterial disease brucellosis, also called 'goat disease', according to a senior health official.

Dr. Marut Chirasetsiri said all 24 goats slaughtered in the last few months were moved from the central region and there is no report of human contracting the disease in the province.

The local health office has worked with the provincial animal husbandry center to oversee the production of goat milk to build confidence among consumers.

There are about 30,000 goats in the province. Among all 45 goat farms, 40 farms raise goats for meat and the other five farms are dairy goat farms.

Most farms are in Raman district, according to senior animal husbandry official Dr. Somchai Korwanakit.

The livestock office has maintained a surveillance over the disease. Moving goats from other areas is banned and officials said they will continue to check infectious diseases in goats to prevent any outbreak.

About 2,000 goats were slaughtered in Thailand's western province of Kanchanaburi today following the first major outbreak of brucellosis in 30 years.

Nineteen workers from a goat milk dairy and meat farm in Kanchanaburi have been infected, along with one government animal husbandry worker.

--TNA 2005-09-07

[sriracha john]

Reminds one of bird flu?:

A Thai official dumps diseased goats to be buried at a farm in Kanchanaburi province. Some 2,000 goats were culled and slaughtered in Kanchanaburi following the first major outbreak of brucellosis in 30 years.

[englishoak]

here we go again

Told the wife and she said Baaa. i'm taking her to the docs tomorrow.

[Scott]

I've been out of the agricultural loop for a while, but I do know that brucellosis is a major problem. In the EU, USA and Canada the movement of unvaccinated livestock is severely restricted.

Isn't Brucellosis the disease that is called Undulant Fever in people?

Again, it used to be a big problem for people as well.

[sriracha john]

I've been out of the agricultural loop for a while, but I do know that brucellosis is a major problem.  In the EU, USA and Canada the movement of unvaccinated livestock is severely restricted. 

Isn't Brucellosis the disease that is called Undulant Fever in people? 

Again, it used to be a big problem for people as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good information available here:

Brucellosis Information