The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment continues to report an outbreak of Q fever in The Netherlands. From January 1 through July 20, 2010, 427 human cases were reported, including 5 deaths.
Of these reported cases, the exact number of confirmed cases is not known. Most of these cases have been in Noord (North) Brabant, Gelderland, Limburg, and Utrecht Provinces in the southern part of the country, although cases have been reported throughout the country.
These cases represent an ongoing outbreak of Q fever in the Netherlands since 2007: 168 cases were reported in 2007, 1,000 cases in 2008, and 2,357 cases, including 6 deaths, in 2009
Q fever is a disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a species of bacteria found all around the world. Q fever is a zoonotic disease, which means that it is passed from animals to humans. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the main carriers of C. burnetii; however, other animals can also carry the bacteria. Infected animals excrete C. burnetii through milk, urine, and droppings (feces), and during the birthing process. C. burnetii is resistant to heat, drying, and many common disinfectants, allowing it to survive for a long time in the environment.
People can become infected with Q fever by breathing in the C. burnetii bacteria, usually through contaminated barnyard dust and soil. People can also become infected by drinking or eating unpasteurized (raw) milk and dairy products. Q fever has a wide variety of signs and symptoms in humans, including flu-like illness, pneumonia, and hepatitis. Q fever can be treated with antibiotics, and most people will recover fully.
For additional information about Q fever and the outbreak in The Netherlands, see the following links:
- Q Fever (CDC Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases)
- Q Fever and Animals (CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People)
- Rickettsial and Related Infections (CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010)
- Q Fever in The Netherlands: An Update on the Epidemiology and Control Measures (Eurosurveillance, Volume 15, Issue 12, 25 March 2010, Rapid communications)
- Q Fever Incidence by Municipality Map (Dutch)
Source: Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
SOURCE : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention