Pneumonias occur more frequently among people living in areas with many livestock farms. The additional risk of pneumonia is greater for those living within 2000 meters of a goat farm. Bacteria have been found in the stalls of goat farms that may explain these pneumonias. The same bacteria were also found in the environment and/or among people living nearby the goat farms. This is shown in VGO Livestock farming and the health of local residents (Livestock farming and the health of local residents)-III, the latest research on Livestock Farming and the Health of Local Residents.
It was already known that pneumonias are more common in areas with many livestock farms. This was shown in VGO Livestock farming and the health of local residents (Livestock farming and the health of local residents)-I and -II. VGO-III confirms this. Especially residents near goat farms face an increased risk of pneumonia. This risk is highest for those living closest.
VGO-III consisted of multiple sub-studies that looked at various pathogens that may cause pneumonias.
Different Pathogens in Stalls, Outdoor Air, and Among People
More than thirty different bacteria were found in the stall air of goat farms that can cause pneumonia in humans. Of these bacteria, 23 were also present in patients, residents, goat farmers, and/or in the outdoor air surrounding goat farms.
No Direct Cause
It is difficult to prove that the bacteria from goat stalls are the direct cause of the pneumonias among people living around goat farms. However, the 23 identified bacteria may explain the increased occurrence of pneumonias. This is because they were found in the stall air, the environment around the stalls, and/or among the examined individuals.
Manure and Bedding
In the stalls, VGO-III investigated manure, bedding, and air. This shows that many of the bacteria in the stall air come from a mixture of stall manure and bedding. The goats walk on this in the stall. All investigated farms and almost all goat farms in the Netherlands keep their goats in this manner.
Reducing Pathogen Levels in Stall Air
The recommendation is to see if the levels of pathogens in the stall air and surrounding air on goat farms can be reduced. This way, people living nearby come into contact with fewer pathogens.