Survey shows 55 people still suffering from Q fever symptoms 15 years after infection

A regional population survey found 55 people who still suffer from the Q fever infection they contracted during a major outbreak about 15 years ago. They struggle with chronic complaints, and in some cases, this is without them being aware of it. The organization Q-support, which is supporting this group, is pleading for improvements in research and detection because “the detection of the chronic Q fever can prevent severe complaints or possible deaths.”

The Netherlands had the largest epidemic of Q fever in the world between 2007 and 2010. Tens of thousands of people were infected, especially people near goat farms. The infected suffered from flu-like symptoms, headaches, high fevers, or a lung infection.

Q fever can also lead to inflammation of blood vessels or heart valves in the long term. This is a slow process, which often leads to it being discovered at a later stage.

Q-support has said that there are currently 600 people with confirmed cases of Q fever, but there are possibly 400 to 1,600 people who are walking around undiagnosed.

A regional population survey in the areas that were most affected by the infections between 2007 and 2010 was conducted by Q-support after this was requested by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

These areas are Noord-Brabant, Limburg, and parts of Gelderland, Utrecht, Zuid-Holland, and Twente. The turnout for the population survey was very low. About half of the GP practices in the regions participated. They invited a small portion of their patients, and ultimately, less than half of them accepted the invitation.

According to Q-support, this is due to a lack of time for GPs but also "due to a lack of knowledge about Q fever.”