Q fever News

Here you can catch up on the latest news from our own research and engagement as well as other Q fever related news from around the world. Please feel free to contact us if you come across other important and relevant news articles about Q fever that you’d like us to cover.

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Q Fever Group in the media

Other Q Fever Group news

General Q Fever news

Q Fever Group in the media

Multiple ‘Taking the Query out of Q fever’ (Q Fever Group) members published an article in The Conversation that summarises how Australia’s ongoing drought could be increasing the risk of Q fever transmission. They used evidence that Coxiella burnetii spores are very resilient and able to survive in soil or dust for many years to conclude that this bacteria can spread very far during drought, even attaching to dust and travelling 10km or more on winds. This bacteria is also resistant to dehydration and UV radiation, making Australia’s mostly dry climate a very hospitable breeding ground.

Q Fever Group member Associate Professor Jane Heller of Charles Sturt University was interviewed by The Land, a news outlet whose principal aim is to convey news items and relevant information to people whose life and work revolve around agriculture in rural Australia. A/Prof Heller discussed how our industry-research partnership is designed to address major research gaps in Q fever knowledge and help to form a national guideline for an emergency response, should the need arise. Further insight from A/Prof Heller is available in this Queensland and Country Life article.

Q Fever Group member Dr Tabita Tan from The University of Melbourne was interviewed by Dairy News Australia. In this article, Dr Tan explains how high rates of Q fever infection in livestock herds can persist, even without obvious signs of any symptoms in the animals. Dr Tan states that the annual cost of Q fever to the cattle industry amounts to at least $1 million in lost productivity, medical expenses and potential litigation, though this is likely to be a conservative understatement.

Dr Tan also promoted public engagement in Q Fever Group research into Q fever patient experiences in six print media articles – Beef Central, The Rural, Riverine Herald, Country News, Shepparton News and Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, as well as being featured through the Rural R&D for Profit Program Researcher Spotlight.

Q Fever Group member Associate Professor Jane Heller highlighted the findings of the project, including the need for greater awareness among veterinarians and human health professionals on Q Fever diagnosis and management in several industry articles – Beef Central and Sheep Central.

Other Q Fever Group news items

Research collaborator Associate Professor Jane Heller presented about the need for a One Health approach to the management of Q fever at the Australasian Society for Infectious Disease Zoonoses Virtual Conference:
- Heller, J., 2021. Considerations and challenges associated with developing a national Q fever response plan. Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Q Fever Updates webinar, 29 Sept 2021
Members of the research collaboration presented their findings at the virtual International Epidemiology Association World Congress of Epidemiology 2021:
- Hou, K., Firestone, S., Wiethoelter, A., Stenos, J., Lignereux, L., Clark, N., Aleri, J., Magalhães, R. and Stevenson, M., 2021. 890 The prevalence and risk factors for Coxiella burnetii on commercial dairy goat farms in Australia. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(Supplement_1), pp.dyab168-289. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab168.289
- Abeykoon A.M.H., Hou, K., Vincent, G.A., Stevenson, M.A., Firestone, S.M. and Wiethoelter, A., 2021. 897 Environmental contamination of Coxiella burnetii in and around an endemically infected goat farm. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(Supplement_1), pp.dyab168-007. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab168.007
- Tan, T. and Heller, J., 2021. 917 Stakeholder analysis to develop a national outbreak response plan for Q fever in Australia. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(Supplement_1), pp.dyab168-647. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab168.647
- Rahaman, R., Burgess, T., Milazzo, A., Marshall, H., Chaber, A.L., Crabb, D. and Bi, P., 2021. 585 Do Australian livestock farmers perceive Q fever prevention differently from animal science and veterinary students?. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(Supplement_1), pp.dyab168-553. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab168.553
Q Fever Group RHD student, Hasanthi Abeykoon presented her research findings at the World One Health Congress (virtual edition) in November 2020:
- Abeykoon A.M.H., Hou K., Clark N.J., Magalhaes R.J.S., Vincent G.A., Stevenson M.A., Firestone S.M., Wiethoelter A., 2020. Environmental sampling to detect Coxiella burnetii: A systematic review and field sampling in an endemic setting. Virtual Poster, World One Health Congress 2020
Member of the project’s collaborator team shared Q fever knowledge at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists:
- Heller, J., Tan, T., Hayes, B., Firestone, S., Stevenson, M., 2019. Responding nationally to a Q Fever outbreak – can we create a plan? In: 2019 Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Science Week Conference Proceedings, Gold Coast, 4-6^thJuly 2019, p. 35.
- Hou, K., Firestone, S., Wiethoelter, A., Stenos, J., Lignereux, L., Clark, N., Stevenson, M., 2019. A cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors for Coxiella burnettii on dairy goat farms in Australia. In: 2019 Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Science Week Conference Proceedings, Gold Coast, 4-6^thJuly 2019, p. 37.
- Abeykoon, A.M., Clark, N., M, Magalháes, R.J.S, Vincent, G., Stevenson, M., Firestone, S., Wiethoelter, A., 2019. Sampling methods to detect Coxiella burnetii in the environment: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence. In: 2019 Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Science Week Conference Proceedings, Gold Coast, 4-6^thJuly 2019, p. 39.
At the 2019 Australian Biosecurity Symposium, Gold Coast, Queensland, 12-13 June 2019, Q Fever Group collaborators hosted a panel discussion:
- Heller, J., Glasgow, K., Firestone, S.M. 2019. Are we prepared for a Q Fever outbreak? In: 2019 Australian Biosecurity Symposium Program Abstracts, Gold Coast, 12-13^thJune 2019, p. 44.
Q Fever Group RHD student, Hasanthi Abeykoon presented her research findings at The Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference, Perth, WA, 5-10 May:
- Abeykoon, A.M.H., Clark, N.J., Magalháes, R.J.S., Vincent, G.A., Stevenson, M.A., Firestone, S.M., Wiethoelter, A., Sampling methods to detect C. burnetii from the environment: A systematic review. In: Proceedings of AVA Annual Conference, Perth, 5-10^thMay 2019, p. 9.
At the Meeting of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 12-16 November 2018, Q Fever Group collaborators presented:
- Canevari, J., Firestone, S., Vincent, G., Campbell, A., Cameron, A., Tan, T., Muleme, M., Stevenson, M., 2018. The association between Coxiella burnetii shedding at the time of parturition in dairy goats and daily milk yields produced during the subsequent lactation. In: Proceedings of the 15th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 12-16 November 2018, p. 77.
- Tan, T., 2018. A pilot study of the prevalence of Q fever in cattle, sheep and goats in Victoria, Australia. In: Proceedings of the 15th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 12-16 November 2018, p. 223.
Q Fever Group collaborators attended, and showcased their latest research findings at Farmsafe Conference, Townsville, 3-5 October 2018:
- Firestone, S., 2018. Keynote presentation Q-fever: Australia’s silent rural burden: Separating the facts from fiction. In: Farmsafe 2018. Farmsafe Australia, The Ville Resort, Townsville Queensland 3-5 October 2018, p. 26.
- Tan, T., Firestone, S., Larson, J., Stevenson, M., 2018. The seroprevalence of Q Fever in cattle, sheep and goats in Victoria. In: Farmsafe 2018. Farmsafe Australia, The Ville Resort, Townsville Queensland 3-5 October 2018, p. 28.
Project collaborators were pleased to participate in ‘Q fever outbreaks: Identifying, assessing and managing the risk’, panel discussion and scientific presentations at the Sheep, Camelid and Goat Veterinarians Special Interest Group of the Australian Veterinary Association, Melbourne, 12-16 August 2018
Additional presentations by Q Fever Group collaborators at the Sheep, Camelid and Goat Veterinarians Special Interest Group of the Australian Veterinary Association, Melbourne, 12-16 August 2018:
- Firestone, S., Bond, K., Vincent, G., Wilks, C., Franklin, L., Sutton, B., Segal, Y., Stevenson, M., Stenos, J., 2018. Victorian Q fever dairy goat farm outbreak: Key findings from the outbreak investigation. In: ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG Conference 2018: The Abdomen and Beyond, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 12-16 August 2018, pp. 204 – 206.
- Canevari, J., Firestone, S., Vincent, G., Campbell, A., Tan, T., Muleme, M., Cameron, A., Stevenson, M., 2018. Q fever associated milk yield losses in dairy goats. In: ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG Conference 2018: The Abdomen and Beyond, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 12-16 August 2018, pp. 200 – 203.
- Stevenson, M., Tan, T., Muleme, M., Canevari, J., Firestone, S., Vincent, G., Campbell, A., Cameron, A., 2018. What we know and what we need to know about the distribution of Q fever risk in humans and livestock. In: ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG Conference 2018: The Abdomen and Beyond, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 12-16 August 2018, pp. 300 – 304.
- Vincent, G., 2018. Efforts to develop an autogenous Q fever vaccine. In: ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG Conference 2018: The Abdomen and Beyond, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, 12-16 August 2018, Australia, p. 337.
Collaborators presentations by the Q Fever Group at the 2018 Annual Meeting of The Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists:
- Canevari, J., Firestone, S., Stevenson, M., 2018. The hokey pokey model of Q fever on farm transmission dynamics. In: Meeting of the Epidemiology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 5-7 July 2018
- Canevari, J., Firestone, S., Vincent, G., Campbell, A., Tan, T., Muleme, M., Cameron, A., Stevenson, M., 2018. The prevalence of dairy goats shedding Coxiella burnetii at the time of parturition in an endemically infected herd and associated milk yield losses. In: Meeting of the Epidemiology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 5-7 July 2018.
SE Queensland goat farm bus tour after Australian Veterinary Association Conference, Friday 18 May 2018. Organised by Sheep Goat Camelid SIG of the AVA
At the Australian Veterinary Association Conference in Brisbane, May 2018, Q fever group collaborators presented:
- Wood C., Tan T., Muleme M., McGowan M., Stenos J., Gibson J., Perkins N., Firestone S., Tozer S. 2018. Q fever: Validation of serological tests for Coxiella burnetii exposure in Australian cattle.
Q Fever Research News, Veterinary Careers, 17 Dec 2017 http://veterinarycareers.com.au/q-fever-research-news/
Members of the project’s collaborating team shared Q fever knowledge at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists:
- Tan, T., Firestone, S., Stevenson, M., Canevari, J., Campbell, A., Larsen, J., 2017. The seroprevalence of Q fever in livestock in Victoria. In: Annual Meeting of the Epidemiology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 6-8 July 2017
Collaborators presentations by the Q Fever Group at the 2017 Australian Veterianary Association Conference, 4-9 June 2017, Melbourne:
- Stevenson, M., Firestone, S., Canevari, J., Magalhaes, R.J.S., Heller, J., Caraguel, C., Cameron, S., Stenos, J., Vincent, G., Baxendell, S., 2017. Taking the Q (Query) out of Q Fever. In: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4-9 June 2017
- Tan, T., Firestone, S., Stevenson, M., Canevari, J., Campbell, A., Larsen, J., 2017. The seroprevalence of Q fever in livestock in Victoria. In: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 4-9 June 2017
Research to minimise Q fever outbreaks, Vet Practice Magazine, 13 Oct 2016: https://vetpracticemag.com.au/research-minimise-q-fever-outbreaks/
Research to minimise Q fever outbreaks, UQ News, 10 Oct 2016: https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2016/10/research-minimise-q-fever-outbreaks
National Workshop to Identify Q Fever Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs, Melbourne, 15-16 April 2015

General Q fever news

February 2020: An updated Series of National Guidelines (SoNG) document outlining approaches for diagnosing, treating and managing Q fever in Australia have been issued by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia. This document gives a very thorough overview of the issues that Q fever poses for Australian livestock communities, and also goes into some of the technical aspects of Q fever diagnosis.

Q fever in the News

May 1, 2021: ABC News – Q fever cases drop this year and could be COVID-19, climate change and cattle number related

February 26, 2021: Beef Central – True cattle breeders at heart warn about Q Fever risks

January 18, 2021: The Guardian – ‘We need answers’: why are people living near Dutch goat farms getting sick?

November 19, 2020: ABC News – Q fever diagnosis for woman after tick bite while camping near Cairns prompts health warning

September 18, 2020: Beef Central – Call for subsidised Q-Fever vaccine, as outbreaks occur

July 22, 2020: FarmOnline – Vaccinate our rural kids now says mother of Q Fever victim

October 30, 2019: The Sydney Morning Herald – Drought conditions increase Q fever risk in parts of Queensland and NSW

August 27, 2019: The Weekend Australian – Put Q fever vaccine on PBS: farmers

July 24, 2019: The Weekend Australian – Farmers in drought-stricken areas are dying from Q fever, a rural leader has claimed

April 12, 2019: Beef Central – $1.1 million payout for Q Fever victim

May 13, 2019: The North West Star – QCWA (Queensland Country Women’s Association) leads the fight against the dangers of Q Fever