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Q fever is a zoonotic disease in which people get infected from animals. There’s a type of bacteria that causes Q fever, and flu-like symptoms appear.
There might be no illness or only mild illness in many people. People may start noticing symptoms about 2-3 weeks after getting infected. The symptoms of Q fever are quite similar to flu symptoms, including:
Additionally, you may also experience:
If you don’t get treatment on time, the symptoms may worsen over time and last up to 6 weeks.
The bacterium called Coxiella burnetii causes Q fever. People can be affected by farm animals such as sheep, cattle, and goats. It is also found in other domestic and wild animals such as cats, dogs, and kangaroos. You can’t identify whether animals have Q fever, but animals with Q fever can spread bacteria to people. When you breathe in infected air that is contaminated by bacteria, you will get infected with Q fever. You may also become affected by handling:
Infection of humans occurs by breathing in air contaminated by dried:
Contaminated clothing, animal hides, wool, and straw can also lead to infection. If you work with animals, you are at high risk of being affected by Q fever. This includes being a meat worker, farmer, shearer, or vet. It’s rare for Q fever to spread from person to person. Despite this, if you drink unpasteurised milk, it can also increase the risk of getting Q fever. With pasteurisation, bacteria are killed.
Vaccination for Q fever can prevent Q fever infection. It’s advisable for all people aged 15 years and over who:
Q fever vaccination is recommended for:
If you work with camels, cattle, goats, sheep, and kangaroos, you can get in touch with GP Glenory at Magnus Medical Centre about getting the Q fever vaccination. If you have previously had Q fever or been vaccinated for Q fever, you don’t need to be vaccinated.
A Q fever skin test is a pre-vaccination screening tool used to check if you have been previously infected with Coxiella burnetii bacteria. This screening tool is used alongside a blood test.
Only one dose is recommended in a person’s lifetime. Booster doses are not recommended.
Q fever doesn’t spread from one person to another. Instead, it is spread from cattle, sheep, and goats, and other wild and domestic animals to humans.
Antibiotics are used to treat Q fever. You will recover quickly if you get treatment early. On the other hand, long-term antibiotics may be required to treat chronic Q fever. Tips to prevent Q fever:
Conclusion
Q fever is often spread from animals to humans; that’s why Q fever vaccination is often recommended. Reach out to Glenroy Medical Centre doctors if you notice symptoms mentioned in the blog.
