Context:
An eight-year-old girl from Kerala, recently passed away due to brucellosis.
Brucellosis:
- Key facts:
- Bacterial infection caused by unpasteurized milk consumption.
- Caused by: Various Brucella species.
- Also known as: Undulant fever, Mediterranean fever, Malta fever.
- Mainly infects: Cattle, swine, goats, sheep, and dogs.
- Transmission:
- Humans acquire through direct contact with infected animals, consuming contaminated animal products, or inhaling airborne agents.
- Most cases from ingesting unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.
- Human-to-human transmission is very rare.
- Incubation Period: Varies from one week to two months, usually two to four weeks.
- Vulnerable Age Group:
- Affects people of all ages.
- Primarily affects farmers, butchers, hunters, veterinarians, and laboratory personnel.
- Treatment: Antibiotics such as Doxycycline, Streptomycin etc.
- Prevention:
- Vaccination of cattle, goats, and sheep.
- Pasteurization of milk and cheese to prevent transmission.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC CSE – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)