Q Fever, 2014

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

In 2014, 2 confirmed cases of acute Q fever were reported. There were no chronic cases. The cases were 14 and 76 years old, both male. Neither were hospitalized and both survived. One case was likely exposed through drinking unpasteurized cow’s milk, and the other had an undetermined exposure.

From 1997 to 2014, there were 18 confirmed acute cases and 4 confirmed chronic cases of Q fever reported. The median number of cases reported annually was 1 (range, 0 to 3). The median age of acute cases was 59 years (range, 11 to 76 years); the median age of chronic cases was 32 years (range, 33 to 75 years). Four cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic, 1 was black, non-Hispanic, and 1 was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 11 of the 14 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through contact with infected animals, 2 were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 1 through a tick bite. Five of the 12 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related job.

• For more information see>> Reporting Q Fever
  
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2014