Dutch Couple Celebrating Engagement In Gozo Catch Rare Illness After Eating Spoilt Ġbejna
Imagine going on holiday to celebrate your engagement and you’re experiencing an incredible time with your spouse.
You’ve arrived in Malta and decided to visit the rural, peaceful island of Gozo. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
Unfortunately, as this Dutch couple soon found out, something did go very wrong after devouring a local delicacy, the Gozitan ġbejna, the Times of Malta reported.
Sometime after consuming the unpasteurised cheeselet, they began experiencing some very discomforting symptoms.
As it turns out the couple had caught Brucellosis, an extremely rare condition that hasn’t been detected in Malta since 2003. The infection can be contracted via the consumption of infected animals or their products.
The restaurant the couple consumed the ġbejna from stated they often consume their own products and no issues were ever noted.
They went on to say their farm is inspected twice a year in order to secure the safety of the animals and the products taken from them.
Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci has come out and said this infection is incredibly rare and confirmed reports are taken seriously and stated health authorities will be collaborating with the Veterinary Directorate.
Furthermore, she confirmed the entire flock involved in this case had to be culled as a result of one infected animal.
The infection itself can only be lethal if left untreated, for this unlucky Dutch couple they will be on a stream of antibiotics for six weeks.
What is Brucellosis?
Brucellosis is also commonly known as Malta fever, even though it can occur anywhere in the world, the Mediterranean is the most prevalent area of infection. Symptoms begin to appear anywhere between five days to two months after consumption.
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