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.

• Q Fever fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)