Vračar: The administration does not have laboratory confirmation that a case of brucellosis infection in animals has been recorded

Veterinarian from the Food Safety Administration, Jelena Vračar, said on Boje jutra on Vijesti Television that they still do not have laboratory confirmation that a case of brucellosis infection in animals has been recorded.

Two days ago, the RTCG portal reported that the dangerous infectious disease brucellosis, which can be transmitted from animals to humans, was discovered on a sheep farm in the town of Bioče near Podgorica.

As the portal reported at the time, the Institute of Public Health determined that the disease had spread to humans, and that products from that farm were banned.

When asked what would happen if brucellosis was confirmed on the farm, Vračar said that the farm where the suspicious animals are located is under official supervision, and that the animals have been tested, isolated, and that the farm has been blocked, meaning that there are no animals.

"Of course, products must also not leave the farm, as must any materials that may be contaminated and that have come into contact with animals. If the disease is officially confirmed based on laboratory results, all those animals that have reacted positively will unfortunately have to be euthanized, and of course, if the official veterinarian considers other animals to be infected, they will also be euthanized and harmlessly removed, and of course, the ban on taking out products, taking out animals, and all materials that have come into contact will still be in effect. All of this will also have to be destroyed and harmlessly removed," said Vračar.

Given that the disease has already been transmitted to humans, Vračar says that brucellosis is an occupational disease of veterinarians and farmers, as well as laboratory workers and people who work in slaughterhouses.

"It is important that products are purchased from registered producers, who are under the supervision of the service. An additional precautionary measure is, of course, boiling the milk, so that is the best way to protect yourself. As for other people, those who I said are most at risk, these are people who come into direct contact with animals. It is also important that farmers report the first symptoms that appear, usually the symptoms in animals are quite mild, and the disease can even go completely undetected until reduced reproductive performance appears," said Vračar.