Q Fever, 2018

Q fever is an acute or chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites.

In 2018, 4 confirmed cases were reported, 2 acute and 2 chronic. The acute Q fever cases were a 70 year-old and 77 year-old, 1 of whom was likely exposed through cattle contact, the other had an undetermined exposure. The chronic cases were a 5 year-old and a 71 year-old who both likely had sheep exposures. All 4 cases were hospitalized; the acute cases were hospitalized for 2 and 31 days respectively, and the chronic cases were hospitalized for 8 and 13 days respectively. All cases survived.

From 1997 to 2018, 23 confirmed acute cases, and 8 chronic cases were reported. The median age of acute cases was 59 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 53 years (range, 5 to 75 years). Thirteen (81%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic; 2 (13%) were black, non-Hispanic; and 1 (6%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 19 (79%) of the 24 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (13%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 2 (8%) through a tick bite. Eight (53%) of the 15 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related occupation.

• For more information see>> Reporting Q Fever
  
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2018