No! I don't mean Desmond Llewelyn aka 'Q' from the James Bond moviesQ fever is a disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium that affects both humans and animals. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domesticated animals, including cats and dogs. It is the most infectious diseases known to man!
The infection results from inhalation of contaminated air-borne particles, and from contact with the milk, urine, feces, vaginal mucus, or semen of infected animals. The incubation period is 9-40 days. It can be considered the most infectious disease in the world, as a human being can be infected by a single bacterium.
The bacteria is an obligate pathogen and was difficult to study because it could not be reproduced outside a host. Therefore it is more common in the rural areas but can be transferred from human to human.
The number of cases of Q fever reported among humans in the Netherlands has risen 'explosively' over the past few weeks, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday. The paper says that over 200 cases have been reported in recent days, half of them in Noord-Brabant province.
Q fever was rarely known among humans until 2007, when 168 cases were reported. Last year there were more than 1,000 instances in the Netherlands.
The disease, which leads to spontaneous abortion in sheep and goats, causes flu-like symptoms in humans but can lead to lung infections. Therefore it is dangerous to vulnerable groups e.g. asthmatics, cystic fibrosis sufferers, the elderly and infirm.
The number of cases of Q fever reported among humans in the Netherlands has risen 'explosively' over the past few weeks, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday. The paper says that over 200 cases have been reported in recent days, half of them in Noord-Brabant province.
Q fever was rarely known among humans until 2007, when 168 cases were reported. Last year there were more than 1,000 instances in the Netherlands.
The disease, which leads to spontaneous abortion in sheep and goats, causes flu-like symptoms in humans but can lead to lung infections. Therefore it is dangerous to vulnerable groups e.g. asthmatics, cystic fibrosis sufferers, the elderly and infirm.
The dose needed to infect 50% of experimental subjects is one, via inhalation — i.e. inhalation of one organism will yield disease in 50% of the population. This is an extremely low infectious dose, making C. burnetii the most infectious organism known to man.
The disease occurs in two stages: an acute stage that presents with headaches, chills, and respiratory symptoms, and an insidious chronic stage. Anyone who feels they may have been exposed should consult their doctor and discuss appropriate treatment.
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