Outbreak of Occupational Brucellosis at a Pharmaceutical Factory in Southeast China

Zoonoses Public Health. 2017 Sep;64(6):431-437. doi: 10.1111/zph.12322. Epub 2016 Nov 12.

Abstract

Brucellosis is an occupational disease affecting workers in butcher shops, the milking and dairy product industry, causing more than 500 000 new cases around the world. As a national statutory B infectious disease in China, morbidity of brucellosis is rapidly increasing in recent years. We report an occupational outbreak of brucellosis infection in a pharmaceutical factory. Exposure was a result of manual operation in the process line, close contact with sheep placentas, insufficient disinfection and repeated using of protective suits and infected by aerosol dissemination. Improved preventive methods, appropriate public health measures and spread of health education would be helpful to prevent the occupational outbreak of brucellosis in future.

Keywords: Occupational Outbreak; epidemiological investigation; human brucellosis; pharmaceutical factory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brucellosis / epidemiology*
  • Brucellosis / etiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • China / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Drug Industry*
  • Humans
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Protective Clothing
  • Risk Factors