A total of 25 million yuan (about $ 3.8 million) was raised in compensation for brucellosis cases caused by urban air pollution in 2019 in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province in northwest China, Xinhua News Agency reported on December 3.
A total of 10,528 people were tested for antibodies to brucellosis after exhaust fumes caused people to contract brucellosis between July and August 2019, the provincial center for disease prevention and control said.
Infections were caused due to the use of an expired disinfectant at the China Animal Husbandry Industry Co., Ltd. biological pharmaceutical factory. (CAHIC) in Lanzhou, which produces vaccines against animal brucellosis. This caused bacteria to enter the plant's exhaust fumes.
Lanzhou Deputy Mayor Wei Qingxiang said the factory was directly responsible for the incident and should bear the cost of treating the sick throughout their lives.
The plant raised money to create a special fund for the victims. So far, the enterprise has fully borne all medical expenses for all cases of the disease and has paid about 3.84 million yuan in compensation to 3,244 people. So far, a total of 1,604 symptomatic brucellosis patients have been treated, two of whom are currently being treated in hospital.
Brucellosis is usually spread by contact with infected livestock, including cattle and sheep, or by eating unpasteurized dairy products. The disease is characterized by fever, malaise, and headaches.
