A state laboratory in China has infected thousands of people with Brucellosis, a bacterial disease, through aerosols that were blown out of the ventilation system during vaccine production. The incident occurred in Lanzhou, a city with a population of 2.9 million in the northwest of China. According to a CNN report, 3,234 people have been infected with Brucellosis. The health authorities of the city have confirmed the incident, and 1,401 people who tested positive for the disease did not experience an outbreak. There have been no reports of human-to-human transmission, and a total of 21,847 people have been tested.
Brucella bacteria are usually transmitted to humans through infected animals and contaminated animal products. The disease often causes fever, joint pain, and headaches. The Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America are endemic areas for the disease. In Germany, animal populations are officially free of B. abortus and B. melitensis. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also states that human-to-human transmission is rare. However, the bacteria can remain in the human body and cause symptoms such as heart problems, chronic fatigue, or arthritis.
The outbreak in China is linked to a state biopharmaceutical laboratory that produces vaccines for animals. The expired disinfectant used in the production of Brucella vaccines caused the bacteria to remain alive, and infectious aerosols were blown out of the ventilation system. The outbreak occurred last year and spread to a neighboring veterinary research institute, where almost 200 people were infected. The disease then spread to students and staff at Lanzhou University. The laboratory has issued an official apology, and the authorities have revoked the license for the production of Brucella vaccines. Financial compensation will be provided to affected individuals from October.
