Chinese Ministry of Health said in Beijing Friday that China faces a "serious" burcellosis epidemic and the country is scaling up efforts to curb it from spreading further.

"China reported 5,753 human cases of brucellosis in the first half of 2004, which is close to the total number of reported cases last year," the ministry said in a press release. "The situation is stark."

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. These bacteria are spread primarily among animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, deer, pigs and dogs. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria.

In humans, brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms similar to the flu and may include fever, headache, back pain, and physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur. Brucellosis can also cause long-lasting or chronic symptoms that include recurrent fevers joint pain and fatigue.

The Ministry of Health noted that it has issued a notice together with the Ministry of Agriculture, ordering local health and agricultural departments to take rigorous quarantine and disinfecting measures, and conduct strict animal cull on sick livestock to halt the spread of the disease.

The two ministries asked local agencies to improve health education to the public to raise people's awareness of the disease, the Ministry of Health said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said the two ministries also asked local agencies to enforce efforts in disease monitoring. "

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture will readjust and increase the key national monitoring posts according to the development of the epidemic," the Ministry of Health said.

Local health institutions were asked to cooperation with agricultural departments closely, and report disease information immediately, the Health Ministry said.?

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2004)