Taiwan CDC has released data on this year’s Q fever situation, with 35 cases having been confirmed so far. In terms of the cases’ place of residence, the most affected areas are Kaohsiung County with 19 cases, Changhua County with four cases and Kaohsiung City with three cases. According to past years’ epidemic data, the number of Q fever cases begins to rise in March every year. CDC thus appeals to people to be on alert against infection.
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a species of bacteria that is distributed globally. The symptoms and signs of human infection vary greatly between people, and some infected individuals are even asymptomatic. The incubation period for Q fever is 1-3 weeks, after which the clinical symptoms of high fever combined with pneumonia or hepatitis will develop in most cases. Most patients will recover within 2 weeks of symptom onset without any treatment, and recovered patients will usually possess lifelong immunity against re-infection.
The main risk groups for Q fever include farmers, veterinarians and people whose work involves shearing, slaughtering or rearing animals, especially livestock such as goats and sheep. Infection of humans usually occurs by inhalation of airborne barnyard dust or ingestion of food contaminated by dried placental material, birth fluids, and excreta of infected herd animals. Other modes of transmission to humans, including infection through tick bites, are rare.
CDC appeals to high risk groups to avoid contact with potentially infected animals.
To effectively prevent Q fever infection, workers at facilities housing sheep or goats should appropriately dispose of placenta, birth products, fetal membranes and aborted fetuses, and appropriate procedures must be taken for bagging, autoclaving and washing of their work clothing. Individuals should drink only pasteurized milk and milk products to avoid infection.