Q fever in the Netherlands: an update on the epidemiology and control measures

• DOI: 10.2807/ese.15.12.19520-en
• Publication Date: 2021-03-30T10:41:41Z
• Authors: W van der Hoek; F Dijkstra; B Schimmer; P M Schneeberger; P Vellema; C Wijkmans; R ter Schegget; V Hackert; Y van Duynhoven
• Keywords: Culling

Since the steady rise in human cases which started 2007, Q fever has become a major public health problem Netherlands with 2,357 notified year 2009. Ongoing research confirms that abortion waves on dairy goat farms are primary source of infection for humans, primarily affecting people living close (under 5 km) to such farm. To reverse trend last three years, drastic measures have been implemented, including large-scale culling pregnant goats infected farms.