About Q fever
Q fever is an infection caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which usually spreads to people from animals or their infected surroundings. For most people, it’s a mild infection similar to the flu and can be treated easily. But for a few people, it can lead to serious health issues such as pneumonia and hepatitis.
Disease type:
Zoonoses
Vaccination available under NIP:
No
Notifiable disease:
Yes
National guidelines
Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Q fever vaccination is advised for people who work with animals. For information about prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, see healthdirect's Q fever page.
Surveillance and reporting
Q fever is a nationally notifiable disease.
We monitor cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
For more on Q fever in Australia, you can search Communicable Diseases Intelligence.
Date last updated: