NewsDesk @bactiman63

Nineteen cases of coxiellosis (Q fever), which is transmitted, in particular, by animals, have been registered this year in the Rostov region, Svetlana Nenadskaya, head of the epidemiological surveillance department of the regional Rospotrebnadzor, told state-media, RIA Novosti.

“This year, 19 laboratory-confirmed cases of coxiellosis have been registered in the Salsky and Remontnensky districts of the Rostov region … The last time this disease was recorded in the region was in 2001-2002,” the agency’s spokesperson said, adding that no deaths were registered.

According to Nenadskaya, the surge in incidence is likely due to “active circulation of the pathogen in the external environment.” The reasons for this are currently being studied by experts.

Q fever is caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen, Coxiella burnetii. The disease is usually transmitted to people through either infected milk or through aerosols.

This disease is found on most continents with the reported incidence probably much lower than the actual because so many cases are so mild.

Animal reservoirs of C. burnetii include sheep, cattle, goats, dogs and cats. In areas where these animals are present, Q fever affects veterinarians, meatpacking workers, and farmers.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

The symptoms of Q fever according to the CDC are an unexplained febrile illness, sometimes accompanied bypneumonia and/or hepatitis is the most common clinical presentation. Illness onset typically occurs within 2–3 weeks after exposure.

T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise with a clean, computerized image of a Giardia intestinalis trophozoite. See more at Giardia in Black and White

The mortality rate for acute Q fever is low (1–2%), and the majority of persons with mild illness recover spontaneously within a few weeks although antibiotic treatment will shorten the duration of illness and lessen the risk of complications. Chronic Q fever is uncommon (<1% of acutely infected patients) but may cause life-threatening heart valve disease (endocarditis).