Q Fever

Q fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. It is mostly transmitted by inhalation of aerosols that contain the C. burnetii bacteria, from infected animals to humans. Symptoms of Q fever usually appear within two to three weeks of contracting the disease and may include fever, chills, headaches, muscle pain and chest pain. If left untreated, the infection can lead to pneumonia, inflammation of the heart muscle and chronic fatigue syndrome. Q fever can be effectively treated with antibiotics and is important to diagnose and prevent due to its ability to spread rapidly both among humans and animals. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent Q fever and is available for those people at an increased risk of infection.