Two farms at Hardap quarantined

TWO farms in the Hardap district have quarantined after a number of people apparently contracted a contagious disease transmitted to humans by animals.

Brucellosis (Malta Fever) is usually found in cattle and other hoofed animals, where it causes sterility in males and prompts females to abort. It can spread to humans by consuming infected meat and unpasteurised milk and handling the hides of infected animals. In humans the disease can cause recurrent or chronic fever which can be serious and last several years. Acting Chief Veterinarian Dr Frans Joubert confirmed the quarantine yesterday but declined to give the names of the farms. Joubert said samples have been sent to Windhoek to test for Brucella bacteria and the results are expected today.Joubert said some people are suspected to have contracted the disease and are being treated in Windhoek. He could not say how many people have become ill.The Afrikaans daily Republikein yesterday identified the quarantined farms as Bethal (69) and Lichterfelde and reported that eight people are ill.But an official at the Mariental Veterinary Services office, Victor Klazen, said the number of people is not that high. luqman@namibian.com.na