Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  Q fever is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by a highly sustainable and virulent bacterium. The pathogenic agent is found worldwide, with the exception of New Zealand and Antarctica. Understanding the transmission and risk factors of Q fever is crucial for public health due to its potential to cause widespread infection. […] Recent data indicates that Q fever remains a significant public health concern worldwide. In 2019, the United States reported 178 acute Q fever cases and 34 chronic cases. Notably, in 2024, the state of Victoria, Australia, experienced a marked increase in Q fever cases, with 77 reported instances—a significant rise compared to the previous five years. This surge prompted health authorities to issue alerts emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and awareness.

• #1 Epidemiology and Statistics | Q Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/q-fever/data-research/index.html

  Q fever was made a nationally notifiable disease in the United States in 1999. CDC compiles the number of cases reported by state and local health departments and reports national trends. The number of Q fever cases reported to CDC increased, from 19 cases reported in 2000, to 173 cases reported in 2007. […] In 2019, 178 acute Q fever cases were reported, as well as 34 chronic Q fever cases. The number of cases of Q fever per million population varies by state, with cases most frequently reported from western and Great Plains states where ranching and rearing of livestock are common. […] More than one third of cases (36%) are reported from three states (California, Texas, and Iowa). […] Cases of Q fever can occur during any month of the year. Most cases of reported illness begin in the spring and early summer months, peaking in April and May.

• #1 Acute and chronic Q fever national surveillance – United States, 2008-2017 – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34626097/

  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii and can manifest in an acute or chronic form. […] Acute and chronic Q fever are nationally notifiable diseases, and presented here are the incidence, demographics and distribution of acute and chronic Q fever in the United States during 2008-2017. […] Health departments reported 1,109 cases of acute Q fever and 272 chronic Q fever cases to NNDSS during this period. […] The 10-year average annual incidence for acute Q fever was 0.36 cases per million persons, and the average annual incidence for chronic Q fever was 0.09. […] Males accounted for nearly 75% of both acute and chronic Q fever cases. […] Average annual incidence was highest among persons aged 60-69 years for both acute and chronic Q fever (0.70 cases per million persons and 0.25, respectively). […] Even though Q fever is a rare disease in the United States, incidence doubled from 2008 to 2017.

• #1 Q fever: Epidemiology, microbiology, and diagnostic tests – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/q-fever-epidemiology-microbiology-and-diagnostic-tests

  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The most common mode of transmission to humans is inhalation of C. burnetii that has been excreted by animals, especially livestock. The infection occurs throughout most of the world, although incidence is higher in the Middle East than in North America and Europe. […] Seroprevalence studies demonstrate that many more people are infected with C. burnetii than the numbers of reported symptomatic Q fever cases suggest. Underreporting of Q fever cases probably results from a combination of subclinical infections and, in cases where infection does lead to disease, a failure to recognize it due to nonspecific clinical presentation. […] Geography — Q fever likely occurs throughout most of the world, although the incidence and prevalence of infection are unknown in many countries due to lack of surveillance. Only New Zealand has been demonstrated to have no Q fever.

• #1

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44197-024-00288-4

  This study aimed to assess epidemiological trends of Q fever in six countries of Southeast Europe by analysing surveillance data for 20022021 period. Overall, 2714 Q fever cases were registered during the 20-year period. The crude average annual notification rate was 0.82 (2.06) (95% CI: 0.471.16) per 100,000 inhabitants, ranged from 0.06 (0.04) (95% CI: 0.040.08) /100,000 in Greece to 2.78 (4.80) (95% CI: 0.535.02) /100,000 in the Republic of Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Significant declining trends of Q fever age standardized rates were registered in Croatia, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia, with an average annual change of -30.15%; -17.13%; -28.33% and 24.77%, respectively. Q fever remains a significant public health threat in this part of Europe. The findings of this study revealed the endemic maintenance of this disease in the including countries, with large regional and subnational disparities in notification rates. In accordance with the applicable Law, Q fever is a mandatory notifiable disease in all participating SEE countries. In all involved countries, surveillance of Q fever is compulsory and comprehensive, on the national level. The surveillance is case-based and relies on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) case definition. A confirmed case of Q fever has to meet at least one of the clinical criteria (fever, pneumonia and hepatitis) and at least one of the laboratory criteria. The crude average annual notification rate of Q fever in the study area and period was 0.82 (2.06) (95% CI: 0.471.16) per 100,000 inhabitants. The average age standardized rates of Q fever notifications peaked in the BH entities the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of BH (1.24/100,000 and 1.06/100,000, respectively). An unequal spatial distribution of Q fever was noted across administrative levels of four SEE countries with available data. The highest average notification rate of 5.32 (5.18) (95% CI: 0.699.89) /100,000 was recorded in the cities of Banja Luka and Bijeljina in BH (the Republic of Srpska). According to the results of joinpoint regression analysis, ASR of Q fever notifications revealed statistically significant decreasing trend, across SEE (AARC=-14.20%) during the study period. Observing by countries, statistically significant downward trends in the period 20022021 were registered in Croatia, the Federation of BH, North Macedonia and Serbia, with an average change in ASR of -30.15%; -17.13%; -28.33% and 24.77% per year, respectively. The results of our study revealed that females, compared to males, and population aged under 20 and over 59 years, compared to persons belonging to the age group of 2059, had a significantly lower probability for acquisition of Q fever in the period 20062021 across all SEE countries. The findings of this study revealed the endemic maintenance of Q fever in SEE, with large variations in the spatial distribution observed, in and between the countries. The overall registered average notification rate in the six SEE countries was almost three times higher than that recorded in the EU/EEA countries during the same period, mainly due to the high notification rates in BH entities and Croatia.

• #1 The Epidemiology of Q Fever in England and Wales 2000–2015

  https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/4/2/28

  Between 2000 and 2015, 904 cases of acute Q fever were reported in England and Wales. […] There are limitations in the surveillance system for Q fever, including possible geographical differences in reporting and limited epidemiological data collection. The surveillance system needs to be strengthened in order to improve the quality and completeness of the epidemiological dataset. […] Q fever is not notifiable in either humans or animals in England and Wales, although since 2010 the organism is laboratory reportable in humans. […] At present, only basic epidemiological information is collected on Q fever patients’ exposure histories, making it difficult to identify the source of infection for many sporadic cases. The authors recommend a period of enhanced surveillance, aimed at more clearly describing the risk factors for Q fever in England and Wales. […] This paper has described the epidemiology of Q fever in England and Wales between 2000 and 2015. Whilst some case data is available, work is required to improve the quality and completeness of the dataset.

• #1 Factsheet – Health Protection Surveillance Centre

  https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/qfever/factsheet/

  Q fever is a notifiable disease in Ireland. […] Q fever is found worldwide. Between 12 and 17 cases of Q fever are reported in Ireland each year. […] Since 2007, there has been an extensive outbreak in The Netherlands resulting in more than 3000 human cases diagnosed. […] The disease is commonly acquired through occupational exposure to infected sheep and other small ruminants, e.g. by farmers, veterinarians, and abattoir workers. […] Risk appears to be greatest at parturition or during abortions and during dry, windy weather conditions. […] People become infected by inhaling contaminated dust, or from contact with urine, faeces, vaginal mucus or semen of infected animals. […] The incubation period – time from initial infection to the appearance of symptoms – is from 9 to 40 days (typically 14-20 days). […] Q fever can cause problems in pregnancy. […] Immunosupressed patients such as those living with cancer and patients with heart disease and heart or vascular grafts are also at higher risk. […] There is no vaccine available against Q fever.

• #1 The Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands: history, onset, response and reflection | Epidemiology & Infection | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/q-fever-epidemic-in-the-netherlands-history-onset-response-and-reflection/9B3BAC610F8EE1F8B080E2B7DB959F86

  The 20072009 human Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands attracted attention due to its magnitude and duration. […] In general good monitoring and surveillance systems are necessary to assess the real magnitude of Q fever. […] Since 2007, a Q fever outbreak has been ongoing in The Netherlands and this is referred to as the largest outbreak of Q fever ever reported in the literature. […] The proximity to small ruminants excreting high numbers of C. burnetii during abortion, with transmission facilitated by dry weather and high numbers of susceptible humans is probably the main cause of the human Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands. […] Q fever outbreaks can easily be missed in the human field as well in the veterinary field. In general good monitoring and surveillance systems are necessary to assess the real magnitude of Q fever.

• #1

  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/controlguideline/Pages/qfever.aspx

  Public health priority: […] Surveillance objectives: To monitor trends in Q fever with respect to time, population groups, geography, and risk factors. […] To identify a likely source of infection so that the likelihood of further cases from the same source can be minimised, such as in workplace settings. […] To detect and guide immediate action and control measures for outbreaks to prevent further transmission. […] To guide the planning and implementation of policy, service provision, prevention strategies, and other public and animal health interventions. […] In Australia, there were around 500-800 notifications (2.5-5.0 per 100,000 population) annually in the 1990s. […] During 2001-2006, an Australian Government funded National Q Fever Management Program was implemented in Australia, which provided subsidised vaccination to at-risk groups, initially to abattoir workers, contractors working in abattoirs, and sheep shearers; and subsequently to sheep, dairy, and beef cattle farmers, and their employees and family members working on farms.

• #1 Epidemiology and Statistics | Q Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/q-fever/data-research/index.html

  More cases of Q fever are reported in older people, especially men. However, men may be more likely to hold jobs with increased risk for Q fever exposure, such as ranching or livestock management. People who live or spend time near ranches and livestock facilities are at increased risk for Q fever infection. Studies have shown that people with a history of heart valve defects, endocarditis, or heart valve implants may have increased risk of chronic infection and severe disease.

• #1 Health: Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention Division: Q Fever

  https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/zoonotic-diseases/q-fever/

  Q fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. This bacterium naturally infects some animals, such as goats, sheep and cattle. About half of people who become infected develop symptoms, which can be mild to severe, and some may develop a chronic form of the disease. […] Certain professions are at increased risk for Q fever infection, including veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, dairy workers, livestock farmers and researchers at facilities housing sheep and goats. […] Q fever is a risk for anyone who has contact with sheep, cattle or goats in Indiana, although human illnesses are rarely reported.

• #1

  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/q-fever.aspx

  Q fever is a bacterial infection that can cause a severe flu-like illness. […] The bacteria are spread from animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goats. […] A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect people who are at risk. […] Screening tests are required to identify who can be vaccinated. […] Q fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. […] It is spread to humans from cattle, sheep and goats as well as other domestic and wild animals. […] Workers in the following occupations are at high risk of Q fever: abattoir and meat workers, livestock and dairy farmers, farm workers, shearers, wool classers/sorters, pelt and hide processors, stockyard/feedlot workers and transporters of animals, animal products and waste, veterinarians, veterinary nurses/assistants/students and others working with veterinary specimens, wildlife workers working with high-risk animals, agriculture college staff and students, laboratory workers, animal shooters/hunters, dog/cat breeders, and anyone regularly exposed to animals who are due to give birth, pet food manufacturing workers, people whose work involves regular mowing in areas frequented by livestock or wild animals.

• #1 Q Fever | Safety Services

  https://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/units/occupational-health/surveillance-system/q-fever

  Q Fever is an infection caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. […] Q fever is a significant cause of illness in biomedical research facilities housing ruminants, especially sheep or goats. […] Human infection most commonly results from exposure to the amniotic fluid of infected ruminants, especially sheep. […] The organism spreads by aerosols, so direct contact with the fluid is not necessary – you only need to be in the same air space with the infectious material. […] The highest risk is seen in those that work with pregnant animals or newborn lambs, especially if the workers have had relatively little exposure to ruminants in the past. […] Workers washing clothing or drapes contaminated with amniotic fluid are at risk, even if they have no contact with the animals themselves.

• #1 Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | Q fever

  https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/qfever.shtml

  Q fever is a disease caused by Coxiella burnetii bacteria and is found in some animals, such as goats, sheep and cattle. […] Veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, sheep and dairy workers, etc. are at highest risk for Q fever. […] Humans become infected by inhaling dust contaminated by infected animal feces, urine, milk and birth products. […] Q fever does not spread from person to person.

• #1 Q Fever in the United States: Summary of Case Reports from Two National Surveillance Systems, 2000–2012 in: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Volume 92 Issue 2 (2015)

  https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/92/2/article-p247.xml

  Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis historically associated with exposure to infected livestock. This study summarizes cases of Q fever, a notifiable disease in the United States, reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through two national surveillance systems with onset during 2000-2012. The overall incidence rate during this time was 0.38 cases per million persons per year. The reported case fatality rate was 2.0%, and the reported hospitalization rate was 62%. Most cases (61%) did not report exposure to cattle, goats, or sheep, suggesting that clinicians should consider Q fever even in the absence of livestock exposure. The prevalence of drinking raw milk among reported cases of Q fever (8.4%) was more than twice the national prevalence for the practice. Passive surveillance systems for Q fever are likely impacted by underreporting and underdiagnosis because of the nonspecific presentation of Q fever.

• #1 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  Transmission primarily occurs through the inhalation of contaminated dust, contact with contaminated milk, meat, or wool, and particularly birthing products. Ticks can transfer the pathogenic agent to other animals. While human-to-human transmission is rare, often associated with the transmission of birth products, sexual contact, and blood transfusion, certain occupations pose higher risks for Q fever: veterinary personnel, stockyard workers, farmers, sheep shearers, animal transporters, laboratory workers handling potentially infected veterinary samples or visiting abattoirs, people who cull and process kangaroos, and hide (tannery) workers. […] It is important to note that anyone who has contact with animals infected with Q fever bacteria, especially people who work on farms or with animals, is at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Understanding these occupational risks is crucial for public health.

• #1

  https://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/website/lectures/qfever.htm

  C burnetii is capable of living for long periods in the environment and is infectious even after extended periods of drying. […] Persons in certain occupations are more likely to be infected with the organism, including veterinarians, workers in meat processing plants, persons who have contact with sheep, cattle, and goats, and researchers at facilities housing sheep.

• #1 Airborne geographical dispersal of Q fever from livestock holdings to human communities: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full Text

  https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3135-4

  Estimated distances of Q fever contamination from putative farm sources ranged from 1 km to 10 km. Studies in rural areas indicated the highest infection risk generally occurs within distances of 5 – 10 km of infected farms; most urban outbreaks generally identified smaller distances, with highest risk occurring within 2 – 4 km. […] Wind has been implicated as an epidemiological factor in the spread of Q fever in studies from farm and abattoir putative sources. […] Most community outbreaks have been associated with the lambing / calving period of goats or sheep and have been temporally linked to the lambing season in high density rearing areas. […] Our review suggests that in rural areas, the highest risk of infection occurs within 5 km of infected farms, whereas urban outbreaks generally occur within smaller distances, with the highest risk in areas 2 – 4 km from source farms.

• #1 Airborne geographical dispersal of Q fever from livestock holdings to human communities: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full Text

  https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3135-4

  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. This bacterium survives harsh conditions and attaches to dust, suggesting environmental dispersal is a risk factor for outbreaks. Spatial epidemiology studies collating evidence on Q fever geographical contamination gradients are needed, as human cases without occupational exposure are increasing worldwide. […] In all documented outbreaks, infective sheep or goats, not cattle, was the likely source. Evidence suggests a prominent role of airborne dispersal; Coxiella burnetii travels up to 18 km on gale force winds. In rural areas, highest infection risk occurs within 5 km of sources. Urban outbreaks generally occur over smaller distances, though evidence on attack rate gradients is limited. Wind speed / direction, spreading of animal products, and stocking density may all contribute to C. burnetii environmental gradients.

• #1 Information for Public Health Officials | Q Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/q-fever/php/case-reporting/index.html

  Q fever is a nationally notifiable condition, and all Q fever cases should be reported to your state or local health department according to local laws. […] Q fever infections are reported under two distinct reporting categories (acute Q fever and chronic Q fever) as described in the 2009 Q fever surveillance case definition. […] Confirmed and probable cases of Q fever are reported through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

• #1 Q fever | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

  https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/q-fever

  Q fever is a nationally notifiable disease. […] We monitor cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

• #1 Q fever, a disease that can be passed from ruminants to humans | Anses – Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail

  https://www.anses.fr/en/content/q-fever-disease-ruminants-humans

  Q fever is often misunderstood, even though this disease is widespread throughout the world and was discovered almost a century ago. […] A programme was carried out in France between 2012 and 2015 to obtain epidemiological information on Q fever in ruminants for the very first time on a national scale. […] Animal Q fever has been subject to mandatory reporting and monitoring in the European Union since 2021, under the „Animal Health Law” (Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases). […] As reporting of human cases in France is not mandatory, the number is underestimated. […] Q fever seems to be widespread throughout the country, and is very prevalent in certain regions such as French Guiana. […] The people most exposed are those working in the livestock sector or living near farms.

• #1 SciELO Brazil – Overview of Q fever in Brazil: an underestimated zoonosis Overview of Q fever in Brazil: an underestimated zoonosis

  https://www.scielo.br/j/rimtsp/a/TLHJX3cK9dKqwyQyNFRYRcR/

  In Brazil, although Q fever was introduced as a compulsory notification disease in 2014 (Ordinance 1.271 of June 6, 2014, of the Ministry of Health), the reported cases are counted with other Rickettsioses, which does not allow us to count the actual cases of Q fever, generating confusion about its status as a compulsory notification disease. […] In most serological surveys conducted since 1953, people and animals sensitized by the bacterial species were studied, confirming its circulation in some states of the country, such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Ceara, Alagoas, Goias, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pernambuco, Santa Catarina and Piaui. Q fever has an occupational character, with many of its articles demonstrating the occurrence of this disease in butchers, veterinarians, farmers, and other professionals who have contact with farm animals.

• #1 Zoonotic Diseases – Q Fever – Disease Surveillance Epidemiology Program – MeCDC; DHHS Maine

  https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/zoonotic/q-fever.shtml

  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a species of bacteria that is distributed globally. In 1999, Q fever became a notifiable disease in the United States but reporting is not required in many other countries. […] Because the disease is underreported, scientists cannot reliably assess how many cases of Q fever have actually occurred worldwide. Many human infections are inapparent. Maine monitors the incidence of Q fever through mandatory reporting by health care providers, clinical laboratories and other public health partners.

• #1 Q Fever-Related Community Infections: United States Exposure to Coxiella burnetii

  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/460

  Coxiella burnetii is a significant infectious pathogen that causes Q fever. Q fever is thought to be uncommon in the US and most human cases are believed to occur in agricultural livestock workers. However, the extent of US community exposure to C. burnetii is not known with certainty. […] A total of 3.0% (95% CI: 2.0–4.4) of the US population met the criteria for C. burnetii exposure, representing some 6.2 million persons. Overall, 86.9% (95% CI: 75.5–98.4) of the seropositive persons had no lifetime history of work in the agricultural sector (5.5 million persons). […] As a proportion of C. burnetii infections result in acute Q fever and chronic Q fever conveys significant mortality, the community-level risks to the general public may be significant. […] A review of Q fever case reports submitted to the NNDSS from 2000 to 2010 showed that 79% of the officially notified Q fever cases were in persons who had no history of work in traditional high-risk occupations, and 60% reported no contact with livestock.

• #1 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  Studies indicate a higher prevalence of Q fever in men than in women, potentially linked to occupational exposure rates. Other contributing risk factors include geography, age, and occupational exposure. Diagnosis relies on blood compatibility testing, with treatment varying for acute and chronic cases. […] Q fever exhibits global epidemiological patterns, with higher incidence rates reported in certain countries. In Africa, wild animals in rainforests primarily transmit the disease, making it endemic. Unique patterns are observed in Latin America, but reporting is sporadic and inconsistent between and among countries, making it difficult to track and address. […] Recent outbreaks in European countries, including the Netherlands and France, have been linked to urbanized goat farming, raising concerns about the safety of intensive livestock farming practices and the potential risks of zoonotic diseases. Similarly, in the United States, Q fever is more common in livestock farming regions, especially in the West and the Great Plains. California, Texas, and Iowa account for almost 40% of reported cases, with a higher incidence during the spring and early summer when livestock are breeding, regardless of whether the infection is acute or chronic.

• #1 Q Fever: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/227156-overview

  Q fever is endemic in the Middle East. […] Transmission may be influenced by hot, dusty conditions and livestock farming practices that may facilitate windborne spread. […] In addition, a large number of Q fever cases have been reported in The Netherlands since 2007, with over 3700 human cases reported through March 2010. […] Infected dairy goat farms are believed to be the source of the outbreak, and most human cases have been reported in the southern region of the country. […] Moreover, acute disease seems to have regional variations. […] An influenzalike illness is the most common presentation of Q fever in Australia. […] Hepatitis has been reported in France, southern Spain, and Ontario, Canada. […] Pneumonia is more common in Crete; Switzerland; Nova Scotia, Canada; and the Basque region of Spain. […] The reason for these variations is unknown, but animal studies suggest important strain differences could be a factor.

• #1 Q Fever Fact Sheet | Texas DSHS

  https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions/zoonosis-control/zoonosis-control-diseases-and-conditions/q-fever/q-fever-fact-sheet

  Report any suspect cases of Q fever to your local health authority within one working day or call the Texas Department of State Health Services at 1-800-252-8239. Case clusters or multiple cases should be reported immediately. […] Since naturally occurring outbreaks of Q fever are reported, an outbreak from a terror source could be difficult to distinguish from a natural one. Further, the protean manifestations require differentiation from diseases ranging from a wide variety of diseases. […] A fourfold rise in IgG titer between acute and convalescent serum samples drawn 14 days apart or a single specimen with IgM antibody (seen as early as 10-14 days into illness) is diagnostic of Q fever. Antibody to C. burnetii may be demonstrated by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and complement fixation (relatively insensitive).

• #1 Q Fever Fact Sheet | Texas DSHS

  https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions/zoonosis-control/zoonosis-control-diseases-and-conditions/q-fever/q-fever-fact-sheet

  Specimens should not be submitted for isolation. Serum specimens must be triple contained in an approved shipping container and have biohazard labels. Before transport is arranged the receiving laboratory must be alerted prior to transport by calling (800) 252-8239 („press 1”). Newly available diagnostic tests may be discussed at that time. Specimens must be accompanied by a Specimen Submission Form and submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.

• #1 AHS – Current News

  https://www.animalhealthsurveillance.agriculture.gov.ie/currentnews/qfeverinireland.html

  Q fever is a notifiable disease in both animals and humans. […] The most recently published study of Q fever in Irish livestock estimated that 19.5% of dairy herds were infected; these herds had bulk tank milk which tested positive for antibodies to Q fever, with a positive test denoting past exposure. […] Data from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database maintained by DAFM shows that only a small number of clinical cases of Q fever (abortions attributed to C. burnetii) are diagnosed on an annual basis. […] Numbers of cases recorded in humans over the past three years are similarly low. […] It is likely that these are underestimates, as previous research had found that 8.5% of Irish Department of Agriculture field and laboratory staff had evidence of exposure. […] Q fever is a health risk for Irish farm animals and Irish people, but it has been here for over 50 years and the risk appears to have remained stable thus far.

• #1 Q fever in small ruminants (Query fever; Coxiella burnetii; Coxiellosis) | Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory | Washington State University

  https://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/2022/11/10/q-fever-in-small-ruminants-query-fever-coxiella-burnetii-coxiellosis/

  Coxiella burnetii is worldwide in geographical distribution and is thought to be endemic in most continents. […] WADDL investigated the serologic prevalence of Q fever infection in 2013 in Washington state and detected antibody in roughly 9% of goat herds tested. […] Q fever can be transmitted to human beings by inhalation of desiccated aerosol particles from the environment and through contact with infected animals, particularly placentas and birthing fluids. […] Most human cases have a history of contact with infected cattle, sheep, or goats. […] Therefore, prevention efforts must focus on minimizing contact with animals that may be shedding C. burnetii in body secretions and excretions. […] The CFT is also a herd-level surveillance test.

• #1 Q Fever – Epidemiology

  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/q-fever/

  Q fever has been reported from most parts of the world. […] On average, Virginia reports two human cases of Q fever per year, while typically 100-150 cases are reported annually in the United States. […] Q fever can be difficult to prevent because the bacteria are hardy in the environment and just a small number of bacteria can cause infection. […] A Q fever vaccine is not available for use in the United States.

• #1 Q Fever – Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

  https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Category/ListContent/bg0g_VU_Ysrgkes_KRUDgQ?uaid=4-_BOHNBxdz3J5RjLWcS0w

  Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis that has been considered an underreported and underdiagnosed illness because symptoms frequently are nonspecific. […] Q Fever Surveillance in Taiwan […] Selfreporting through tollfree 1922 hotline or local public health authority. […] Infection in humans usually occurs by inhalation of bacteria from air that is contaminated by the excreta of infected animals. […] Certain professions are at increased risk for exposure to C. burnetii, including veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, sheep and dairy workers, livestock farmers, and researchers at facilities housing sheep and goats. […] Q fever vaccines are not available in Taiwan. The licensed vaccine for humans is only commercially available in Australia. […] Chronic Q fever is more likely to occur in people with heart valve disease, blood vessel abnormalities, or who are immunosuppressed.

• #1

  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/q-fever.aspx

  A safe and effective vaccine (Q-VAX) is the best way to prevent Q fever infection. […] Vaccination is highly recommended for people who work or intend to work in high-risk occupations. […] Employers must notify SafeWork NSW about Q fever infections in workers that may have been acquired in their workplace.

• #1 Q fever: A rural disease with potential urban consequences

  https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/march/q-fever

  Vaccination is recommended for all people who are likely to be exposed to C. burnetii as assessed from their environmental, activity or occupational risk. The current vaccine is a whole-cell, formalin-inactivated culture, which provides effective immunity but may be reactogenic when administered to people who were previously exposed to the bacteria.

• #1 Q Fever | Safety Services

  https://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/units/occupational-health/surveillance-system/q-fever

  Since Q fever is widespread in nature, any animal flock or herd of ruminants should be considered potentially infected. […] Prevention of illness rests on two principles: Awareness: Those who work with ruminants should know the risks and know the signs of illness. […] Containment: Those who do not work with ruminants should be isolated from the amniotic fluids of ruminants. […] If you work with ruminants, especially pregnant ones or neonates, and if you develop signs which might be caused by Q fever, you should report the illness to your supervisor and to employee health services. […] Q fever is easily treated if it is correctly diagnosed.

• #1 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  These outbreaks have affected a significant number of people, with immunocompromised individuals being more severely impacted. The global nature of Q fever and its association with livestock farming highlight the importance of implementing measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease, particularly in high-risk regions. […] Proper public health education is crucial in reducing the number of Q fever cases. Raising awareness about transmission routes, occupational risks, and preventive measures, such as eliminating unpasteurized milk products from the diet, can help prevent the spread of disease. […] Interdisciplinary collaboration between medical personnel and farmers is critical when developing strategies for control and prevention in a community. Awareness campaigns should particularly target occupations that work with livestock, focusing on risk-reduction procedures such as herd monitoring, implementing sanitation practices and personal protective equipment, and vaccinating animals. Locating livestock farms at least 500 meters away from residential areas can also help reduce animal-to-human transmission.

• #1 SciELO Brazil – Overview of Q fever in Brazil: an underestimated zoonosis Overview of Q fever in Brazil: an underestimated zoonosis

  https://www.scielo.br/j/rimtsp/a/TLHJX3cK9dKqwyQyNFRYRcR/

  There is a lack of information regarding the diseases epidemiology in Brazil, with only a few focal prevalence studies and case reports that do not represent the actual situation in the country. […] Q fever surveillance covers the concept of One Health. It involves the protection of the general population, investigating and mapping the incidence of the disease, always associating outbreaks in animals with the possibility of outbreaks in humans, and identifying the possible environmental source of infection due to high environmental resistance.

• #1 AHS – Current News

  https://www.animalhealthsurveillance.agriculture.gov.ie/currentnews/qfeverinireland.html

  With the trend of beef farmers switching to dairying and marked increases in dairy herd sizes in recent years, surveillance for the prevalence of Q fever in Irish animals needs to be continued into the future. […] Q fever should be considered as a differential diagnosis in ruminants where reproductive problems present, especially where the level of stillbirths or abortions in a herd is higher than expected.

• #1 Airborne geographical dispersal of Q fever from livestock holdings to human communities: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full Text

  https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3135-4

  Our results demonstrate that while geographical distance from livestock sources is a potentially important risk factor in Q fever spatial epidemiology, is has been largely understudied. […] Q fever management plans within livestock facilities need to be multifaceted to mitigate the risk of propagated human outbreaks.

• #2 Q fever: Epidemiology, microbiology, and diagnostic tests – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/q-fever-epidemiology-microbiology-and-diagnostic-tests/print

  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The infection occurs throughout most of the world, although incidence is higher in the Middle East than in North America and Europe. […] Seroprevalence studies demonstrate that many more people are infected with C. burnetii than the numbers of reported symptomatic Q fever cases suggest. Underreporting of Q fever cases probably results from a combination of subclinical infections and, in cases where infection does lead to disease, a failure to recognize it due to nonspecific clinical presentation. […] Geography — Q fever likely occurs throughout most of the world, although the incidence and prevalence of infection are unknown in many countries due to lack of surveillance. Only New Zealand has been demonstrated to have no Q fever.

• #2

  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/controlguideline/Pages/qfever.aspx

  The majority of Australian Q fever notifications have been reported from Queensland and New South Wales, which accounted for 48% and 39% of total national notifications, respectively, during 2011-2015. […] Q fever outbreaks have been reported occasionally in Australia, generally related to occupational and/or environmental exposures. […] The largest reported Q fever outbreak in the world occurred in the Netherlands from 2007 to 2010, involving over 4,000 cases (including 28 deaths reported). […] The goal of community cluster detection is to further explore potential sources of infection and risk factors for Q fever in a broader community context, thereby informing public health action to interrupt transmission and prevent further cases.

• #2

  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/q-fever.aspx

  Q fever is a bacterial infection that can cause a severe flu-like illness. […] The bacteria are spread from animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goats. […] A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect people who are at risk. […] Screening tests are required to identify who can be vaccinated. […] Q fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. […] It is spread to humans from cattle, sheep and goats as well as other domestic and wild animals. […] Workers in the following occupations are at high risk of Q fever: abattoir and meat workers, livestock and dairy farmers, farm workers, shearers, wool classers/sorters, pelt and hide processors, stockyard/feedlot workers and transporters of animals, animal products and waste, veterinarians, veterinary nurses/assistants/students and others working with veterinary specimens, wildlife workers working with high-risk animals, agriculture college staff and students, laboratory workers, animal shooters/hunters, dog/cat breeders, and anyone regularly exposed to animals who are due to give birth, pet food manufacturing workers, people whose work involves regular mowing in areas frequented by livestock or wild animals.

• #2 NC DPH: Q Fever

  https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/qfever.html

  Q fever is an animal-borne (zoonotic) disease caused by Coxiella burnetti bacteria. […] In the United States, Q fever outbreaks have resulted mainly from occupational exposure involving veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, sheep and dairy workers, livestock farmers and researchers at facilities housing sheep. Such exposures can be reduced by educating people in those occupations about proper prevention and control measures.

• #2 Q Fever | Safety Services

  https://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/units/occupational-health/surveillance-system/q-fever

  Since Q fever is widespread in nature, any animal flock or herd of ruminants should be considered potentially infected. […] Prevention of illness rests on two principles: Awareness: Those who work with ruminants should know the risks and know the signs of illness. […] Containment: Those who do not work with ruminants should be isolated from the amniotic fluids of ruminants. […] If you work with ruminants, especially pregnant ones or neonates, and if you develop signs which might be caused by Q fever, you should report the illness to your supervisor and to employee health services. […] Q fever is easily treated if it is correctly diagnosed.

• #2 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  Transmission primarily occurs through the inhalation of contaminated dust, contact with contaminated milk, meat, or wool, and particularly birthing products. Ticks can transfer the pathogenic agent to other animals. While human-to-human transmission is rare, often associated with the transmission of birth products, sexual contact, and blood transfusion, certain occupations pose higher risks for Q fever: veterinary personnel, stockyard workers, farmers, sheep shearers, animal transporters, laboratory workers handling potentially infected veterinary samples or visiting abattoirs, people who cull and process kangaroos, and hide (tannery) workers. […] It is important to note that anyone who has contact with animals infected with Q fever bacteria, especially people who work on farms or with animals, is at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Understanding these occupational risks is crucial for public health.

• #2

  https://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/website/lectures/qfever.htm

  Q fever is an uncommon cause of infection in the US, with around 150 cases of the disease reported each year. […] The main reservoirs for human infection are domesticated ruminants, primarily cattle, sheep, and goats, although other domesticated animals and pets can also transmit the bacterium to humans. […] Most infected animals are asymptomatic; however, abortions in sheep and goats have been associated with the infection. The organisms are excreted in milk, urine, and feces of infected animals. […] Large numbers of C burnetii are seen in amniotic fluid and in the placenta of animals. The dried excreta and amniotic fluid containing the organisms becomes aerosolized and is inhaled by persons working in these environments. Most cases of Q fever occur during animals birthing times. […] A few cases of Q fever have occurred following aspiration of unpasteurized milk contaminated with C burnetii.

• #2 Q Fever | Communicable disease control guidance

  https://www.health.qld.gov.au/disease-control/conditions/q-fever

  Q Fever is an illness caused by bacteria called Coxiella burnetii. […] The main carriers of the disease are farm animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. […] A wide range of other animals can be infected including camels, llamas, alpacas, rodents, cats, dogs, birds, wallabies and other marsupials. […] The bacteria can survive harsh conditions and remain in the environment for long periods of time, so hay, dust and other small particles may also carry the bacteria. […] Enhanced surveillance for public health units. […] Case report form (PDF, 312kB) – used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance. […] View communicable diseases data for notifiable conditions in Queensland. […] Search this database of all notifable conditions and find: control guidelines, notification requirements, health alert information.

• #2 Airborne geographical dispersal of Q fever from livestock holdings to human communities: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full Text

  https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3135-4

  Estimated distances of Q fever contamination from putative farm sources ranged from 1 km to 10 km. Studies in rural areas indicated the highest infection risk generally occurs within distances of 5 – 10 km of infected farms; most urban outbreaks generally identified smaller distances, with highest risk occurring within 2 – 4 km. […] Wind has been implicated as an epidemiological factor in the spread of Q fever in studies from farm and abattoir putative sources. […] Most community outbreaks have been associated with the lambing / calving period of goats or sheep and have been temporally linked to the lambing season in high density rearing areas. […] Our review suggests that in rural areas, the highest risk of infection occurs within 5 km of infected farms, whereas urban outbreaks generally occur within smaller distances, with the highest risk in areas 2 – 4 km from source farms.

• #2 Eurosurveillance | Q fever in the Netherlands: an update on the epidemiology and control measures

  https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/ese.15.12.19520-en?crawler=true

  Since the steady rise in human cases which started in 2007, Q fever has become a major public health problem in the Netherlands with 2,357 human cases notified in the year 2009. […] Ongoing research confirms that abortion waves on dairy goat farms are the primary source of infection for humans, primarily affecting people living close (under 5 km) to such a dairy goat farm. […] To reverse the trend of the last three years, drastic measures have been implemented, including the large-scale culling of pregnant goats on infected farms.

• #2 Q Fever | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/notifiable-conditions/q-fever

  Each year there are 0 to 2 reports. […] To identify the source of infection (e.g., an outbreak at a rendering plant or farm) and prevent further transmission from that source to others. […] To educate potentially exposed persons about signs and symptoms of disease, thereby facilitating early diagnosis. […] Health care providers and health care facilities: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours. […] Laboratories: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours; submission required specimen associated with a presumptive positive result, within 2 business days. […] Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.

• #2 Q Fever: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/227156-overview

  Because Q fever infection can frequently be asymptomatic or present as a flulike illness in its milder forms, this results in an underrepresentation of the actual incidence. […] Epidemiologic serologic testing of specimens from blood donors has discovered a higher incidence throughout Africa, ranging from 18% to 37%, whereas „at-risk” farmers in the United Kingdom demonstrated 29% seropositivity. […] The United Kingdom reports approximately 100 cases annually. […] In southern France and Spain, Q fever is highly prevalent; this disease is the second most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and causing 5% to 8% of endocarditis cases. […] More recently, a few clusters of Q fever were reported in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and were related to exposure to parturient cats.

• #2 The Epidemiology of Q Fever in England and Wales 2000–2015

  https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/4/2/28

  Between 2000 and 2015, 904 cases of acute Q fever were reported in England and Wales. […] There are limitations in the surveillance system for Q fever, including possible geographical differences in reporting and limited epidemiological data collection. The surveillance system needs to be strengthened in order to improve the quality and completeness of the epidemiological dataset. […] Q fever is not notifiable in either humans or animals in England and Wales, although since 2010 the organism is laboratory reportable in humans. […] At present, only basic epidemiological information is collected on Q fever patients’ exposure histories, making it difficult to identify the source of infection for many sporadic cases. The authors recommend a period of enhanced surveillance, aimed at more clearly describing the risk factors for Q fever in England and Wales. […] This paper has described the epidemiology of Q fever in England and Wales between 2000 and 2015. Whilst some case data is available, work is required to improve the quality and completeness of the dataset.

• #2 Q Fever-Related Community Infections: United States Exposure to Coxiella burnetii

  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/460

  There are nationally representative data for the US prevalence of positive C. burnetii antibodies. A US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) surplus sera study using 2003–2004 specimens showed that some 3.1% of the US adult population were C. burnetii-seropositive, representing an estimated 6.1 million persons. […] Rather than being rare, C. burnetii infections were shown to be common in the US: 3% of the adult population, or some 6.2 million persons, had positive serology results. Overall, 87% of those who were C. burnetii-seropositive reported no prior history of work in the agricultural sector, equivalent to some 5.5 million persons in the US. […] The results here suggest that general population exposures to C. burnetii may be common and may exceed those of livestock workers.

• #2 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  These outbreaks have affected a significant number of people, with immunocompromised individuals being more severely impacted. The global nature of Q fever and its association with livestock farming highlight the importance of implementing measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease, particularly in high-risk regions. […] Proper public health education is crucial in reducing the number of Q fever cases. Raising awareness about transmission routes, occupational risks, and preventive measures, such as eliminating unpasteurized milk products from the diet, can help prevent the spread of disease. […] Interdisciplinary collaboration between medical personnel and farmers is critical when developing strategies for control and prevention in a community. Awareness campaigns should particularly target occupations that work with livestock, focusing on risk-reduction procedures such as herd monitoring, implementing sanitation practices and personal protective equipment, and vaccinating animals. Locating livestock farms at least 500 meters away from residential areas can also help reduce animal-to-human transmission.

• #2 Q Fever – 8.022 – Extension

  https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/q-fever-8-022/

  Q fever is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by a species of bacteria called Coxiella burnetii. […] Infection in humans occurs most often in those individuals who come into contact with cattle, sheep, and goats on a regular basis. […] Most people become infected by inhalation of Coxiella burnetti that become aerosolized (airborne) when an infected animal gives birth or experiences a spontaneous abortion. […] Many people infected with Q fever develop no symptoms of infection and eliminate the infection with an effective immune response. […] Q fever can be treated with certain antibiotics. […] Individuals handling these materials should take protective precautions. […] People who have impaired immune systems for example, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer, pregnant women, recipients of organ transplants, and those infected with the HIV virus are more likely to develop more serious disease with potential complications.

• #3 Q fever – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

  Transmission primarily occurs through the inhalation of contaminated dust, contact with contaminated milk, meat, or wool, and particularly birthing products. Ticks can transfer the pathogenic agent to other animals. While human-to-human transmission is rare, often associated with the transmission of birth products, sexual contact, and blood transfusion, certain occupations pose higher risks for Q fever: veterinary personnel, stockyard workers, farmers, sheep shearers, animal transporters, laboratory workers handling potentially infected veterinary samples or visiting abattoirs, people who cull and process kangaroos, and hide (tannery) workers. […] It is important to note that anyone who has contact with animals infected with Q fever bacteria, especially people who work on farms or with animals, is at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Understanding these occupational risks is crucial for public health.

Zobacz więcej