Q Fever: Surveillance & Reporting Overview for Clinicians
Case Definition
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Q Fever Case Definition
NOTE: This definition is for public health surveillance purposes only. It is not intended for use in clinical diagnosis.
Surveillance
- In collaboration with state health departments, CDC maintains surveillance for human Q fever cases in the United States.
- All cases of Q fever in humans are nationally reportable. Physicians should report cases meeting a confirmed or probable case definition (see case definition above) to their state health department.
- Clinicians, infection control professionals (ICPs), and hospital epidemiologists should maintain heightened awareness to
facilitate recognition of
- an individual case or changing patterns or clusters of illness that would indicate possible C. burnetii (Q fever) infection and
- changing patterns or clusters of illness that would indicate a release of a biologic agent, such as C. burnetii.
Reporting
- Q Fever Case Report
(1,040 kb/3 pages) - When C. burnetii is suspected, cannot be ruled out, and/or when a bioterrorism incident is suspected
the following steps should be taken:
- Immediately contact the local infection control professional (ICP) and/or hospital epidemiologist.
- Follow the facility protocol for prompt notification of local and state health department epidemiologists or health officers.
- To reach a public health department consult one of the following:
- The healthcare facility list for local and state health department phone numbers
- The local telephone operator
- The telephone directory under “government listings”
- The Internet at
- If the local and/or state health departments cannot be reached, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100.
- Page last updated August 25, 2006
- Page last reviewed September 28, 2007
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