[News Terms] Possibility of Sporadic Domestic Outbreak of 'Q Fever'

'Q fever' is a zoonotic infectious disease that can infect both humans and animals, caused by infection with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii.

Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular parasite that survives by moving in and out of cells, allowing it to persist for weeks to months even in harsh environments. It is a highly infectious bacterium capable of causing infection with just a single pathogen.

Vaccines are being administered to livestock at a barn in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

It is not transmitted from person to person, but infection occurs through direct contact with animals infected with Coxiella burnetii. Additionally, infection can occur by consuming contaminated milk or soft cheese, being bitten by infected ticks, or inhaling contaminated aerosols in the environment. Blood, urine, amniotic fluid, and placenta from infected animals during abortion or birth can enter the natural environment and become aerosolized (fine particles), infecting humans through the respiratory tract.

Q fever sporadically occurs mainly among livestock farmers raising cattle or sheep, slaughterhouse workers, meat processors, and laboratory personnel, and can also cause outbreaks in livestock farming areas.

In South Korea, it was designated as a notifiable infectious disease in 2006. Infection with Coxiella burnetii causes febrile symptoms similar to influenza, including fever, muscle pain, chills, and acute hepatitis. About 5% of infected patients progress to chronic Q fever. Chronic Q fever manifests as severe diseases such as endocarditis or vascular infections, and despite appropriate treatment, the mortality rate is about 20%, necessitating active disease management.

According to a study published on the 21st by Professor Heo Jung-yeon of Ajou University School of Medicine's Department of Infectious Diseases and a joint research team from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency in the latest issue of the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS), the number of Q fever patients in South Korea has been rapidly increasing since 2015. The research team emphasized, "There is a high possibility of sporadic small-scale outbreaks centered in densely populated suburban areas," and stressed that "proactive preventive measures are needed to minimize the risk of Q fever."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.