New bacterial disease infects thousands in China

NEW DELHI: As many as 3,245 people in north-east China's Gansu province have tested positive for a bacterial disease called brucellosis, also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean fever, in an outbreak caused by a leak at a biopharmaceutical company in July-August last year. In the capital city of Lanzhou, 21,847 people have been tested out of 2.9 million population and no fatalities have been reported so far.

* Brucellosis can cause symptoms including headaches, muscle pain, fever and fatigue. While these may subside, some symptoms can become chronic or never go away, like arthritis or swelling in certain organs, recurrent fevers, inflammation of the heart (endocarditis) and spondylitis.

* Brucellosis can be hard to identify, especially in the early stages, when it often resembles other conditions, such as the flu. If a person experiences persistent and rapidly rising fever, muscle pains and unusual weakness, one should consult the doctor.