Twenty more Bulgarians found infected with rare animal disease
SOFIA (AFP) — Twenty people have been found infected with brucellosis in southern Bulgaria after four others fell ill with the rare animal disease from contact with sick goats and sheep, a veterinary officer said Wednesday.
Earlier this month 121 people in Harmanli were tested for brucellosis following an outbreak of the disease in a herd of goats in the southern town.
Twenty samples were clearly positive while three were borderline, Harmanli veterinary service chief Delcho Yanev said on the national radio.
Four other people had already been infected with brucellosis from an outbreak in a flock of sheep and goats in a nearby village earlier in September.
The disease is difficult to diagnose as its initial symptoms resemble flu, including weakness, fever, sweating, headache and pain in the joints.
Humans can contract it from contact with sick sheep and goats or by consuming infected meat, milk or cheese.
The disease can be fatal but it cannot be transmitted by humans.
