Q fever outbreak in a small village, Taiwan

Abstract

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Its most common reservoirs are domesticated ruminants, primarily cattle, sheep, and goats. Although less frequent, distribution of Q fever in wild mammals, including coyotes, rabbits, foxes, skunks, and deer, has also been reported (1,2). Q fever outbreaks in humans are typically due to inhaling infectious aerosols and contaminated dusts generated by animals or animal products. In contrast, ingestion (mainly drinking un-pasteurized milk) is probably a minor cause of Q fever outbreaks (3).