Foreign
A total of 25 million yuan (about 3.8 million U.S. dollars) has been raised for compensating brucella cases caused by contaminated factory exhaust in 2019 in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province.
Local authorities said on Thursday said that the Lanzhou biological pharmaceutical factory of China Animal Husbandry Industry Co., Ltd. (CAHIC) raised the money.
As of Monday, a total of 10,528 people have been confirmed antibody positive for brucella after the contaminated exhaust led to infections between July and August 2019, according to the provincial disease prevention and control center.
The infections were caused by the use of expired disinfectant at CAHIC, which produces animal brucellosis vaccines.
The failed disinfections resulted in the bacteria entering the exhaust emitted by the factory.
Wei Qingxiang, Deputy Mayor of Lanzhou, said the CAHIC Lanzhou biological pharmaceutical factory was directly responsible for the incident and should bear the expenses for treating brucella-related symptoms of the cases throughout their lifetime.
The factory has raised the money to set up a designated fund for those affected. So far, it has fully borne the medical expenses of these cases and paid about 3.84 million yuan of compensation to 3,244 people.
Until now, a total of 1,604 brucella cases with symptoms have received medical care, with two being treated in the hospital currently.
Brucella, often transmitted by contact with infected livestock including cattle and sheep, or by eating unpasteurised dairy products, can cause brucellosis, also known as Mediterranean fever.
It is characterized by fever, malaise and headaches. (Xinhua/NAN)
– Dec. 3, 2020 @ 14:05 GMT |
Tags: Company raises $3.8m for compensating NW China brucella cases
