Advanced search×

The Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands: history, onset, response and reflection.

H I J Roest, J J H C Tilburg, W van der Hoek, P Vellema, F G van Zijderveld, C H W Klaassen, and D Raoult

Bull Entomol Res 139(1):1-12 (2011) PMID 20920383

The 2007-2009 human Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands attracted attention due to its magnitude and duration. The current epidemic and the historical background of Q fever in The Netherlands are reviewed according to national and international publications. Seroprevalence studies suggest that Q fever was endemic in The Netherlands several decades before the disease was diagnosed in dairy goats and dairy sheep. This was in 2005 and the increase in humans started in 2007. Q fever abortions were registered on 30 dairy goat and dairy sheep farms between 2005 and 2009. A total of 3523 human cases were notified between 2007 and 2009. Proximity to aborting small ruminants and high numbers of susceptible humans are probably the main causes of the human Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands. In general good monitoring and surveillance systems are necessary to assess the real magnitude of Q fever.

Referenced by 1 articles

DOI: 10.1017/S0950268810002268
Version: za2963e q8zac q8zbd q8zc5 q8zd2 q8ze0 q8zff q8zge
Buy PDF

Similar articles you may find interesting…

  1. Antibodies against Coxiella burnetii and pregnancy outcome during the 2007-2008 Q fever outbreaks in The Netherlands.
    Wim W van der Hoek, Jamie C E JC Meekelenkamp, ... Chantal W P M CW Hukkelhoven

    BMC Infect Dis (2011) PMID 21314933 PMCID PMC3042933

    Evaluation of serological results for 1174 women in the PRN indicated that the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against phase II of C. burnetii was not significantly associated with preterm delivery, low birth weight, or several other outcome measures. CONCLUSION: The present population-based stud...
    View PDF
  2. Identification of rickettsial infections by using cutaneous swab specimens and PCR.
    Yassina Y Bechah, Cristina C Socolovschi, and Didier D Raoult

    Emerg Infect Dis 17(1):83-6 (2011) PMID 21192860

    We tested skin eschars from 6 guinea pigs and from 9 humans. Specimens from eschars in guinea pigs were positive for rickettsiae as long as lesions were present. Optimal storage temperature for specimens was 4 degrees C for 3 days....
    PDF not found
  3. Accuracy of syndrome definitions based on diagnoses in physician claims
    Geneviève Cadieux, David L Buckeridge, ... Robyn Tamblyn

    BMC Public Health 11(1):17 (2011) PMID 21211054

    We selected a random sample of 3,600 community-based primary care physicians who practiced in the fee-for-service system in the province of Quebec, Canada in 2005-2007. We randomly selected 10 visits per physician from their claims, stratifying on syndrome type and presence, diagnosis, and month. Do...
    PDF not found