Brucellosis has flu-like symptoms such as fever, sweating, headaches and pain in the joints
© AFP/File Pornchai Kittiwongsakul

SARAJEVO (AFP) - "The number of people who were registered with the infection this year is 395. The situation is very, very serious," Zlatko Puvacic, the chief epidemiologist of the Muslim-Croat half of Bosnia, told AFP.

At least another 1,000 people in the Muslim-Croat Federation had been infected by brucellosis but were not registered since they were yet to see a doctor, Puvacic estimated.

A precise figure on those currently infected with the animal disease was unknown.

Puvacic said health authorities "must urgently undertake measures to prevent further spreading of the disease."

He called for the establishment of quarantine facilities for infected cattle, mainly sheep, and for the proper disposal of the remains of euthanised animals.

"Otherwise the number of infected humans could be two to three times higher," said Puvacic.

He said the situation is identical in the Republika Srpska, the Serb entity that along with the Muslim-Croat Federation makes up post-war Bosnia.

The state veterinary office was unavailable for comment.

The disease is difficult to diagnose as its initial symptoms resemble flu, including weakness, fever, sweating, headache and pain in the joints.

Humans can contract it from contact with sick sheep and goats or by consuming infected meat, milk or cheese.

The disease, which Puvacic said was first introduced to Bosnia when infected cattle were donated to the country after its war, can be fatal but is not contagious among humans.

©AFP