Q Fever, 2019

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 2019, 4 confirmed cases were reported, 2 acute and 2 chronic. The acute cases were a 45 year-old and 69 year-old, 1 of whom was likely exposed through lambing sheep, the other through contact with cattle. The chronic cases were a 74 year-old and a 78 year-old who both likely had animal exposures. All 4 cases were hospitalized; the acute cases were hospitalized for 6 and 7 days respectively, and the chronic cases were hospitalized for 18 and 10 days respectively. All cases survived.

From 1997 to 2019, 25 confirmed acute cases, and 10 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 66 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Seventeen (85%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic; 2 (10%) were black, non-Hispanic; and 1 (5%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 23 (82%) of the 28 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (11%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 2 (7%) through a tick bite. Nine (47%) of the 19 cases with known occupations were currently employed in an agriculture-related occupation.

• For more information at>> Reporting Q Fever
  
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2019