在遭到禽流感和猪流感的侵袭之后，荷兰日前发现新型流感传播迹象，这种新型流感被称为“羊流感”。
据报道，至今已经有2300人感染这种流感，并已有6人因此死亡。“羊流感”，或称“Q型流感”主要的侵袭对象为绵羊和山羊，并能够通过牲畜传染给人类。这种流感由贝纳氏柯克斯体细菌引起，能造成绵羊和山羊的自发性流产。
荷兰农业部证实，目前受到侵袭的农场大约有55至358个，主要集中在艾恩德霍芬市和蒂尔堡市。据《荷兰新闻》从农业部获得的消息称，将统一宰杀可能染病的绵羊和山羊，大约涉及15000头至20000头，主要为山羊。
报道称，人感染“羊流感”的症状为头部剧痛、出汗、感觉寒冷、肌肉酸痛、心跳缓慢和疲劳。急性流感大约持续14天，而慢性流感甚至可能长达2年之久。而慢性“羊流感”则有可能置人于死地。该流感还有可能引起呼吸及心肺系统的疾病。目前已知的6名死亡患者都伴有其他的健康问题。
荷兰国家公共健康研究院发言人鲁尔·考廷奥说，“羊流感”的罪魁祸首是养羊农场的盲目扩张。在荷兰，1995年时约有7600只山羊，而现在这一数字已增长到35万只。考廷奥说：“不过，‘羊流感’的流行将大大减少这一数字。”
Goat Flu Epidemic Reported in Netherlands
Following on the heels of bird flu and swine flu, there are now reports from the Netherlands of an outbreak of goat flu. Online news sources report that up to 2,300 people have been infected by goat flu and that six individuals have died of the disease.
Goat flu, also known as Q fever or Q flu, affects both goats and sheep. It is caused by bacteria called Coxiella burnetii, which are released when pregnant goats or sheep experience a spontaneous abortion. The bacteria spread very easily according to experts.
The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that the virus has been detected at 55 to 350 Dutch farms, with the most affected areas being the cities of Eindhoven and Tilburg. According to the Dutch News, agriculture ministers announced on Wednesday afternoon at a news conference that they will begin culling herds of goats. The unofficial number of animals to be killed is between 15,000 and 20,000, mainly goats, to help prevent further spread of the disease. All infected sheep and goats that have been vaccinated will be slaughtered, as will all pregnant goats and sheep on farms where the disease has been identified.
Symptoms of goat flu include severe headache, chills, perspiration, aching muscles, diarrhea, slow pulse, and general illness. The acute version of the disease lasts for up to 14 days, but individuals who get a chronic type may have the disease for up to two years. In the chronic version, fatigue is the main symptom. The disease can also cause lung and heart problems.
All of the six individuals who died of goat flu had other health problems. At this point, there are no recorded cases of transmission of goat flu infection from person to person. A spokesperson from the public health institute RIVM, Roel Coutinho, told Trouw that the goat flu epidemic may be the result of an aggressive goat farming initiative in the Netherlands. In 1995, there were 7,600 goats in the country, but today there are more than 350,000. Unfortunately, the flu epidemic is about to change those numbers significantly.
SOURCES:
Dutch News, Dec. 12, 2009
Novinite.com, Dec. 11, 2009 |
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