January 2010

The Q-fever epidemic in the Netherlands seems to be unique in the world. Never before have so many people become ill with this disease. What is the reason? The experts are still looking for an answer, although to many it is clear that the expansion of the dairy goat industry in a period of 10 years (from '99 to '09) is mainly the cause of the enormous quantities of bacteria spread throughout the country.

With the past two dry summers, the bacteria were easily blown through the air and inhaled by thousands of people. Most of whom did not get any symptoms at all, some got ill, a few seriously ill and 6 people (already weakened by other ailments) died.

Q-fever has always been in the environment all around the world. From time to time small outbreaks among humans occur, but usually do not last long. Goats (and sheep) can carry the infection without any symptoms, other than abortion when pregnant. Infected pregnant animals shed billions of bacteria during an abortion but also during a full-borne partus. So the real danger lies with the pregnant animals.
That is why now that the situation has grown serious, after 3 years with a growing number of patients, the government has decided to kill all pregnant animals at contaminated farms.

To read more detailed information go to the Q-fever section on this site and also see the excellent site of Warmwell.com