Q Fever
Fact sheet2 - Health conditions directory
Q Fever is an illness caused by bacteria called Coxiella burnetii. The main carriers of the disease are farm animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. In rural areas, kangaroos can also be carriers. A wide range of other animals can be infected including camels, llamas, alpacas, rodents, cats, dogs, birds, wallabies and other marsupials. The bacteria can survive harsh conditions and remain in the environment for long periods of time, so hay, dust and other small particles may also carry the bacteria.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions5
- List of Public Health Unit6 contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71)7 (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Case report form8 (PDF, 312kB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Resources for health professionals
- Australian immunisation handbook9 - provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
- Q fever fact sheet10 - information from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.