Suche
Mein Konto
Bovine tuberculosis in Vorarlberg: Health risk from pathogens!
In January 2025 there was a case of bovine tuberculosis in Vorarlberg, which shows how rare infections are possible. Find out more about the causes, transmission routes and symptoms of this zoonotic disease.
Bovine tuberculosis in Vorarlberg: Health risk from pathogens!
An alarming situation has arisen in Vorarlberg: In connection with bovine tuberculosis, a person has become infected with the responsible bacteria. This represents a rare but clear indication of the transmissibility of this disease. Bovine tuberculosis, which is caused by the bacterial species Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae, can also be transmitted to humans if the conditions are right, such as the Kronen Zeitung reported.
Transmission usually occurs through inhalation of fine droplets exhaled by sick animals or through consumption of unpasteurized milk. People who have frequent contact with infected animals are particularly at risk. According to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), the risk of infection for people is relatively low overall, but increases significantly with prolonged exposure. Another risk is posed by wild animals such as red deer and wild boars, which can act as pathogen reservoirs and transmit the disease to livestock through pasture use.
The threat of mycobacteria
Mycobacteria are a genus of aerobic bacteria, of which around 100 species are known, some of which, such asMycobacterium tuberculosisandMycobacterium leprae, cause serious illness in humans. People with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. As Medlexi reports, tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide, affecting an estimated one-third of the global population. Every year there are approximately 9 million new diseases and over 2 million people die as a result. The resistance of mycobacteria to antibiotics makes therapy considerably more difficult.
The symptoms of tuberculosis can go unnoticed for a long time, making early diagnosis and treatment easier. Cases are often only discovered through abnormal findings after slaughter. Knowledge of this insidious and persistent disease is crucial to controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis and preventing human infections.