Brucellosis Rising

In the last few years, the highly contagious zoonotic infection brucellosis (known as Malta fever) has increased in the country, said Mohammadreza Shirzadi, director of Zoonoses Department at the Health Ministry. Speaking on the sidelines of the 17th annual meeting of national experts on prevention of zoonotic diseases in Sareyn city, Ardebil Province, he said accumulation of animal manure near rural houses, unhygienic slaughtering of livestock and sale of meat, keeping livestock in close proximity to homes, and consumption of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat from infected animals, are the main causes of the spread of the disease among the people. He also pointed to high prevalence of the bacterial infection anthrax in West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Isfahan, North Khorasan, and Khorasan Razavi provinces, IRNA reported. The zoonotic disease caused by the spore-producing bacteria mainly affects hoofed animals such as deer, cattle, goats and sheep.