Contact Us
Public Health
Seattle & King County
999 3rd Ave, Ste. 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
Click here to email us
Phone: 206-296-4600
TTY Relay: 711
|
|
Communicable Diseases and Epidemiology
Q Fever
- Q fever is a disease caused by a type of bacteria named Coxiella burnetii.
- Q fever is primarily a disease of cattle, sheep, and goats. Other livestock and pets can also get Q fever. Most animals have no symptoms; C. burnetii infection may cause abortion in sheep and goats.
- Only about 50% of all people infected with C. burnetii become ill, but the illness can be severe. Symptoms of acute Q fever cases may include:
- high fevers
- weakness
- sore throat
- dry cough
- confusion
- chills and sweats
- chest pain
- severe headache
- muscle ache
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- Fever usually lasts for 1 to 2 weeks and most cases recover within a couple of months without treatment. Weight loss and pneumonia are common.
- Chronic Q fever is uncommon but much more serious and can affect the heart. It is more common in persons with heart disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, or organ transplants.
- Infection occurs by inhaling dust contaminated by dried placental material, birth fluids, as well as urine and feces from infected animals.
- The risk of infection is greatest close to the source of bacteria, but there have been cases of infection even several miles away.
- Accidentally inhaling contaminated milk is a less common way of infection.
- Q fever infection is diagnosed with blood tests or by finding the organism in tissues using DNA detection methods.
- Antibiotic treatment is most effective if started early in the course of illness.
- Chronic Q fever infection of the heart is very difficult to treat. Treatment may take several years and sometimes requires surgery to remove damaged heart valves.
- Avoid exposure to infected animals, especially if you have heart-valve disease or vascular grafts.
- Precautions for persons who work with animals (i.e., veterinarians, meat processing plant workers, sheep and dairy workers, livestock farmers, and researchers at facilities housing sheep) include:
- Appropriate disposal of the placenta, other birth products and aborted fetuses of sheep and goats.
- Restricted access to laboratories and barns with infected or at-risk animals.
- Use of appropriate procedures for bagging & disinfecting work clothes.
- Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products.
- Q fever vaccine is not commercially available in the United States.
|
|
|
