Q fever in the Netherlands: a concise overview and implications of the largest ongoing outbreak

Neth J Med. 2008 Oct;66(9):365-7.

Abstract

Two outbreaks of Q fever were reported in the Netherlands in 2007 and 2008. The ongoing 2008 outbreak in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands is the largest community outbreak ever described, with 808 cases reported until August 2008. The changing epidemiology of Q fever is most likely related to intensive goat farming, and has important implications for the clinical care of patients in endemic areas. Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia has to take possible Q fever into account, and the high incidence of Q fever endocarditis and other manifestations of chronic Q fever require a specific diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies