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Warning of Q fever in Horb am Neckar
After the weekend in Horb am Neckar a village festival in the district of Dießen was canceled because of multiple Q fever infection, the source of infection remains unclear according to official information. On Tuesday, representatives of the Stuttgart State Health Department were on hand to inform themselves about the situation and Wednesday two more cases of Q fever were confirmed. A total of four people had been proven to be infected by Wednesday.
Despite the extensive investigations that have been started, the source of Q fever infections has not been identified so far, according to information from the veterinary office in the district of Freudenstadt. "In flocks of sheep that were sampled, although antibodies have been detected, but there are no acute diseases," said the Veterinary Office. However, a herd of flock "still has a firm suspicion of being a source of infection." Next Saturday, representatives of the Health Department, the Veterinary Office, the Department of Agriculture and the city administration will inform the local population about a Q fever event.
Sheep are probably the source of infection in the current Q fever cases in Horb am Neckar. (Image: Andrea Wilhelm / fotolia.com) First Q fever infection reported just over a week ago
The first Q fever infection was reported to the health department in Freudenstadt on Wednesday last week. A sheep farmer from the Horber district of Dießen was ill with the infectious disease. The subsequent investigations of the health department showed that several people from the district of Dießen were also recently ill with disease symptoms such as high fever and pneumonia. Because the disease is usually transmitted to humans by livestock such as cattle, sheep or goats, the Veterinary Office has also taken promptly investigations.
Search for the source of infection
The Health Department and the Veterinary Office are working hard to determine the source of Q fever infections in order to prevent further illnesses, reports the head of the public health department in Freudenstadt. Josef Bendak. "In addition, we have already informed the doctors in the area, so that it is examined for symptoms of a possible Q fever infection," Bendak continues. Possible symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and body aches. A transfer from person to person usually does not happen.
For symptoms of a "summer flu" to the doctor
All persons from Dießen, Dettlingen and Bittelbronn, who have symptoms of "summer flu" and have been near sheep or goats, strongly advise the health department to consult a doctor. A blood test will determine if there is an infection with Q fever. Thereafter, treatment may be given with antibiotics. According to the director of the health department, pregnant women are "a special risk group" because they have Q fever associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth. Furthermore, people with heart defects or heart valve replacement as well as immunocompromised persons should be assigned to the risk group for Q fever. With them, at worst, a chronic inflammation in the heart.
Those who belong to the above-mentioned risk groups and have been near sheep or goats in the area of the Dießener Valley since mid-May, should, according to the health department, visit a doctor and have them examined for Q fever, even if no symptoms are present , This is important, "as the risk groups are expected to be 10 times more likely to have a chronic course of disease compared to the normal population," according to the Health Department announcement.
Altogether in the past three and a half weeks in Baden-Wuerttemberg 39 people are suffering from Q-fever, reports the news agency "dpa", citing the state health department. Most of the infections have had the Zollernalbkreis. In Horb am Neckar (Freudenstadt district), the number of reported cases on Thursday increased to six confirmed infections. (Fp)