22 people in Hesse suffering from Q fever

22 people in Northern Hesse suffering from Q fever

21/02/2011

So far, 22 people have contracted Q fever in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg in northern Hesse. Those affected complained of high fever, chills and severe headaches. The infectious disease is transmitted in Germany mostly by sheep. The animals are considered the main vectors of Q fever.

The health authorities reported that cases of illness were reported in the district Bromskirchen, in Frankenberg- Rengershausen and in Hallenberg in the neighboring Hochsauerlandkreis. According to media information, at least 22 people have been infected in the region.

The Q fever is caused by the bacteria „Coxiella burnetii“ and is a human transmissible disease. The affected people usually suffer from flu-like symptoms such as high fever, headache and body aches. The germ is considered to be very resistant to environmental influences and can accumulate as a spore in house dust, hay and wool for years and survive. As a consequence illness lung and liver inflammations can occur. In rare cases, inflammation of the bone marrow, veins and meningitis have been observed. "After the pathogen has been ingested, about 50 percent of people have no or only very mild flu-like symptoms," regional health authorities said. Endangered, however, are chronically ill people with a weakened immune system.

In Germany, sheep are the main carriers of the disease. However, the bacteria have also been detected in cows, goats, dogs, cats and in ticks and wild animals. Transmission occurs either through direct contact with the infected animal or via the respiratory air. The human-to-human disease is very rare. If an infection occurs, the disease breaks out after around 9 to 40 days. In Germany, Q fever is a notifiable disease.

The health department Waldeck-Frankenberg has set up a telephone hotline. Citizens can ask questions about Q fever during business hours. The phone numbers are 05631/954479 or 06451/743664.

Conventionally, Q fever is treated with antibiotic drugs. After a few days the patient is on the way to recovery after receiving the drug. The diagnosis is made by a blood test. The pathogen is also detectable in tissue samples. About ten years ago Q fever had already broken out in the region. (Sb)

Image: Lisa Eiling-Wilke