Dr. Otto Muhinda the Director of Veterinary Services at the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) has said a campaign aimed at testing for Brucellosis in all the four Provinces in the country is starting soon.
Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease common in cattle known for causing miscarriages. The disease is caused by the brucella abortus bacteria. it is highly contagious and can be transimitted to humans.
Between the month of October 2011 and January 2012, about 1,652 cattle were tested for brucellosis in Kigali and results indicated that 167 animals were diagnosed positive with the disease.
An estimated Frw 167 million has been lost by livestock farmers due to Brucellosis.
Humans also suffer from this disease usually contracted from drinking unsterillised milk or meat from livestock affected and can also contract the bacterial disease if they get into contact with secretions from affected animals.
In Humans Brucellosis is a disease starts with flu-like symptoms. Complications may include arthritis, heart disease and brain damage.
Other patients exhibit fever, fatigue, and nocturnal sweating, several also presented with other concurrent localized forms of brucellosis, such as hepatitis, arthritis, or pleural effusion.
Also Brucellosis causes acute genitourinary complications leading to enlargement of testis in males.
Apart from killing the already infected animals, “We are sensitising the population about the disease. We shall also prevent it through vaccination,” he said.
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