IF you work closely with farm animals, particularly at this time of the year when stock are giving birth, then if you haven’t had a Q fever vaccination or check to see if you have been exposed to the disease, now might be the time to do so.
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Q fever is an illness caused by a particular type of bacteria called Coxiella burnetii and it was first recognised in Australia during the 1930s.
The main carriers of the disease are farm animals such as cattle, sheep and goats with infected pregnant animals shedding particularly large amounts of the bacteria in birth fluids and placental tissue and any infected animal can shed bacteria in urine, faeces and milk.
The bacteria can survive harsh conditions and remain in the environment for long periods of time, so hay, dust and other small particles may also carry the bacteria.
According to the website, the Australian Q fever register, people can be infected by close contact with any material contaminated with the bacteria.
This may be by handling animals or animal products, drinking unpasteurised milk from infected animals, breathing in small particles containing bacteria and particularly through activities that may involve close contact with tissues and bodily fluids.
People may also be infected by inhaling fine particles (dust) or handling equipment and animal products contaminated with bacteria from an infected animal.
Examples include handling animal skins, working on machinery or animal transport vehicles and even people working in the vicinity of high risk sites (visitors or contractors who may visit a processing plant).
The Q fever organism is highly infectious – exposure to as little as one to 10 individual bacteria may be sufficient to cause infection in a person.
Many people infected with Q fever may show little or no signs of illness.
People who do develop signs of illness typically get sick two-to-four weeks after infection and are sick for one-to-three weeks before recovering.
People with Q fever illness show a range of signs including high fever, chills, headache, extreme fatigue, nausea, muscle and joint pain and severe sweats.
Some people have substantial weight loss. Many sick people will require time off work.
The signs are relatively non-specific and may often be mistaken for influenza or other diseases.
A smaller number of people may develop more severe or debilitating illness following initial Q fever infection.
An Australian Q fever vaccine is available and recommended for people who work regularly with or are at risk of exposure from potentially infectious animals or materials.
This includes abattoir workers, farmers, shearers, veterinary professionals, agricultural college staff and students, kangaroo shooters, tanners, tradesmen who visit abattoirs, laundry staff who clean clothing from abattoirs, and many others.
Before vaccination, people must have skin and blood tests to check if they have previously been infected with Q fever.
People wishing to know more about Q fever vaccination should discuss the issue with their doctor.
Locally, Singleton Medical Centre and Skin Clinic are able to provide the latest information on the disease, Q fever checks and vaccinations.
