16/6/11 - RARE 'Q Fever' Found In 2 South East Michigan Counties

DETROIT -- The Michigan Department of Community Health is warning doctors to be on the lookout for a rare illness after it's suddenly popped up in two counties.

The department said a case of "Q Fever" has been reported in both Monroe and Washtenaw counties. The patients contracted the illness from unpasteurized milk from a Livingston County farm.

Local 4 Dr. Frank McGeorge explained that the illness got its name because its cause was unknown for years and the "Q" stood for query. But the illness is caused by a bacteria that's usually transmitted from cattle, sheep, goats or through contact with infected material. The bacteria can also be breathed in.

Symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, nausea, intestinal problems. McGeorge noted that the symptoms are similar to several other infections, so it's important to narrow down whether the patient had been exposed to a farm environment with the last two or three weeks. Source


'Q FEVER'

Q fever can cause acute or chronic illness in humans, who usually acquire infection after contact with infected animals or exposure to contaminated environments. The acute symptoms caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii usually develop within 2-3 weeks of exposure, although as many as half of humans infected withC. burnetii do not show symptoms.
The following is a list of symptoms commonly seen with acute Q fever. However, it is important to note that the combination of symptoms varies greatly from person to person.

• high fevers (up to 104-105°F)
• severe headache
• general malaise
• myalgia
• chills and/or sweats
• non-productive cough
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• chest pain

Although most persons with acute Q fever infection recover, others may experience serious illness with complications that may include pneumonia, granulomatous hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart tissue) and central nervous system complications. Read More