TIRUPATI: There is a sudden increase of brucellosis cases in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Gosamrakshana Sala. Nearly 60 cows and bulls were infected by the pathogenic bacteria a month ago and now the number of the infected cattle has crossed 100. The infected animals have been placed in a segregated shed to prevent the spread of infection, but the space is insufficient. Two cows died last week.
A month ago, TTD Goshala director K. Harnath Reddy had said they had identified a parcel of land some 40 km away and were shifting the infected cattle there. Nothing has happened on that front so far. Mr Harnath Reddy denied that there was an increase in brucellosis cases. “We are taking care of the cattle. We have identified a land and work is in progress. We will shift the infected cattle soon after the work is done.”
Brucellosis can infect humans if they consume non-pasteurised milk or milk products of the diseased animals. There are nearly 1,600 cows and bulls in the gosala. The milk used in all TTD temples is supplied from the dairy farm. Keeping this in mind the authorities are taking necessary precautions. Prof D. Rani Pramila, head of the State Diagnostic Laboratory, said, “the disease will show its severity in pregnant cows and abortions will be high. Fertility in bulls is drastically reduced. Humans dealing with the infected cattle are likely to be attacked by brucellosis. It may cause fever, spondylitis, muscular and joint pains in humans.”
