Historical QOD: 1/5/09: Q fever is a zoonotic infection caused by Coxiella burnetti.Over 30 cases have been reported among US military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past few years and this disease is of concern as a potential terrorist weapon. Of special concern is the fact that C. burnetti is highly infectious with a single or just a few organisms necessary for disease induction. How are humans usually exposed to Q fever?
Humans are exposed to C. burnetti when animals shed the organism into feces, urine, milk or products of conception.
Hartzell JD, Wood-Morris RN, Martinez LJ, Trotta RF. Q fever: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008 May;83(5):574-9. doi: 10.4065/83.5.574. PMID: 18452690.
Contributed by: M Greenberg