Azeri scholars find brucellosis cure
Azerbaijani scientists have discovered a biologically active
substance capable of curing cattle affected by brucellosis, a
breakthrough that is expected to help prevent the spread of the
disease among humans worldwide.
According to the head of the Azerbaijan Agriculture Ministry’s State Veterinary Service, Ismayil Hasanov, local specialists, including himself, have been conducting research for more than four years to produce the medicine.
"Numerous experiments on treating brucellosis conducted around the world have been unsuccessful. But now concerns over treating the disease have been put to rest. This bio-active substance is one that is unmatched in the world in terms of its composition," Hasanov told a press conference on Friday.
According to him, a patent for the medicine was acquired in 2008. Further, the substance was tested in the regions on cattle affected by the disease and the tests were successful.
Hasanov said the breakthrough in treating brucellosis will prevent the spread of the disease among people.
In 2001, up to 8,000 people were infected with the disease in Azerbaijan. Now, the rate has gone down by up to 50 percent. Also, 20 percent of herds were infected then, but the rate has decreased to less than one percent.
Injecting the medicine into cattle will not require considerable funds. It will cost 20 manats ($25) for horned cattle and 12 manats ($15) for sheep and goats. The substance is to be injected to an infected animal twice – once a day for two days, with a full recovery to take place within five days thereafter.
Once the new medicine is fully applied in Azerbaijan, work will be done to introduce its use throughout the world.
To date, brucellosis prevention has been limited the world over to neutralizing and removing infected cattle from farms and injecting vaccines.
Brucella bacteria were discovered in 1887 by Dr. David Bruce, a British army surgeon. The disease now called brucellosis, under the name "Mediterranean fever", first came to the attention of British medical officers in Malta during the Crimean War in the 1850s. In 1890, world scientists found that brucellosis had transferred to humans from animals. The disease, along with inflicting considerable damage to the economy, causes people to lose their ability to work and even to become disabled.*
According to the head of the Azerbaijan Agriculture Ministry’s State Veterinary Service, Ismayil Hasanov, local specialists, including himself, have been conducting research for more than four years to produce the medicine.
"Numerous experiments on treating brucellosis conducted around the world have been unsuccessful. But now concerns over treating the disease have been put to rest. This bio-active substance is one that is unmatched in the world in terms of its composition," Hasanov told a press conference on Friday.
According to him, a patent for the medicine was acquired in 2008. Further, the substance was tested in the regions on cattle affected by the disease and the tests were successful.
Hasanov said the breakthrough in treating brucellosis will prevent the spread of the disease among people.
In 2001, up to 8,000 people were infected with the disease in Azerbaijan. Now, the rate has gone down by up to 50 percent. Also, 20 percent of herds were infected then, but the rate has decreased to less than one percent.
Injecting the medicine into cattle will not require considerable funds. It will cost 20 manats ($25) for horned cattle and 12 manats ($15) for sheep and goats. The substance is to be injected to an infected animal twice – once a day for two days, with a full recovery to take place within five days thereafter.
Once the new medicine is fully applied in Azerbaijan, work will be done to introduce its use throughout the world.
To date, brucellosis prevention has been limited the world over to neutralizing and removing infected cattle from farms and injecting vaccines.
Brucella bacteria were discovered in 1887 by Dr. David Bruce, a British army surgeon. The disease now called brucellosis, under the name "Mediterranean fever", first came to the attention of British medical officers in Malta during the Crimean War in the 1850s. In 1890, world scientists found that brucellosis had transferred to humans from animals. The disease, along with inflicting considerable damage to the economy, causes people to lose their ability to work and even to become disabled.*