Q Fever Immunisation

 
Beaudesert Medical Centre provides testing and immunisation for Q fever.
Q fever is an infection caught from animal products, especially cattle, sheep and goats. Native animals like kangaroos, wallabies and bandicoots also may spread the disease. Cats, dogs, camels and feral animals are possible sources, too.

Everything about Q fever is a bit strange and difficult.

It can be a mild illness, like a cold or flu. You may not know you’ve had it. Or it can be a severe illness including admission to hospital and weeks off work. 1 in 5 people infected can be unwell and fatigued for a year or more. Less than 1 in 20 can develop problems with heart, liver or bone that can occur months or years later.

Q fever can be easy to catch, especially if you are new to animal-related work or a visitor. It can be hard to catch – your can work with cattle all your life and get suddenly very sick one day. It’s possible to catch Q fever from just a few bacteria, although an infected animal may shed large numbers especially in birthing fluids and placenta.

Q fever can survive for months or years, even in the dry dust of a cattle yard. Even mowing lawns where there are wallaby droppings has been known to infect people. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-09-11/q-fever-spreads-outer-urban-areas-north-queensland/8891762

Q fever can be easy to test for, especially if a PCR test is positive. It can be hard to test for as antibody tests may cross-react with other diseases and may not be positive for weeks are infection.
Immunisation is tricky too, since you may react to the vaccine if you have been previously exposed. You may not know that you have been exposed in the past and blood testing can be unreliable.

Please advise reception that you are booking for Q fever immunisation. You need 2 visits, 7 days apart. The first visit is for a skin test and blood test. At the second visit you will be immunised if skin AND blood tests are negative. Immunity is developed by 15 days after the second visit.

Special pricing applies to Q fever testing and immunisation. Please check with reception.

If you are an employer with a number of workers to be tested and immunised, please speak to our practice manager or email manager@beaumed.com.au

More information about Q fever is here:

• https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/hazardous-exposures/biological-hazards/diseases-from-animals/q-fever
• http://www.qfeverfacts.com.au
• https://www.qfever.org

* Image courtesy of https://www.seqirus.com/expertise/antivenom-and-q-fever-vaccines