Q Fever, 2016

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

In 2016, 2 confirmed cases were reported, 1 acute and 1 chronic. The acute Q fever case was a 58 year-old who was most likely exposed through a tick bite; the chronic case was a 67 year-old who was most likely exposed 2 years prior by drinking unpasteurized goat milk. Both cases were hospitalized, for 3 and 8 days, respectively, and both cases survived.

From 1997 to 2016, 20 confirmed acute cases and 5 confirmed chronic cases of Q fever were reported. The median age of acute cases was 58 years (range, 11 to 76 years); the median age of chronic cases was 40 years (range, 23 to 75 years). Seven (78%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic, 1 (11%) was black, non-Hispanic, and 1 (11%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 13 (68%) of the 19 cases for whom exposure information was available, were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (16%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 3 (16%) through a tick bite. Five (42%) of the 13 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, 2016