More than 3,200 people have contracted brucellosis in Gansu province after a pharmaceutical factory leaked exhaust fumes contaminated by the infectious disease, said mainland health authorities.

As of Monday, a total of 3,245 people in the northern province tested positive for brucella, the bacteria that causes brucellosis, according to a report by local health authorities.

The official report was released on Tuesday, one day after mainland news outlet Caixin questioned why authorities stopped sharing updates on the contaminated leak that occurred last November at the Zhongmu Lanzhou Biology Medicine Factory. The last update was from December, when 200 cases were reported.

There had been new infections since December, so it was strange that authorities stopped updating the numbers, Caixin said in its Monday report.

The infections were first reported in students at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute in late November.

Air from the exhaust systems of the Zhongmu Lanzhou factory, located near the veterinary institute, was found to be contaminated with brucella as a result of incomplete sterilization during the production of an animal vaccine. Patients contracted the bacteria by inhaling the contaminated air or having it enter wounds in their mucous membranes, the health report said.

Gansu authorities in January revoked the pharmaceutical factory’s license for producing the vaccine and seven other veterinary products. In an apology letter released in February, the factory said it would arrange for compensation to those affected and take serious actions against eight employees whom it said were responsible for the contamination.

Brucellosis primarily infects animals but can be transmitted to humans, according to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection.

Symptoms of the disease are non-specific but include fevers, sweats, headaches, muscle and joint pains, fatigue and other flu-like signs. Severe infections may affect the brain, heart, liver, spleen and other organs or bodily systems. Brucellosis may become chronic and relapses may occur even after treatment, according to the CHP.

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