Q fever

Statutory notification

• Q fever infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Case definition: See Q fever (external site) national surveillance case definition.
• Notification: Notify using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB). For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Coxiella burnetii bacteria.
• Transmission: Q fever transmission occurs most commonly through air-borne dissemination of Coxiella in dust or aerosols from premises contaminated by placental tissues, birth fluids, and excreta of infected animals. Contamination also occurs through direct contact with contaminated materials, such as wool, straw, and laundry.
• Incubation period: Usually from 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the size of the infecting dose.
• Infectious period: Direct person-to-person transmission occurs rarely, if ever, although contaminated clothing may be a source of infection.
• Case exclusion: As recommended by doctor.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Antibiotic treatment is available.
• Immunisation: Recommended for those at occupational risk of infection. Before vaccination, a skin test must be conducted to determine prior exposure and immunity to Q fever. Vaccination is contraindicated in cases of previous infection or vaccination for Q fever. See Australian Immunisation Handbook – Q fever (external site).
• Case follow-up: Conducted by local public health units

Guidelines for public health units

• The Australian Q Fever Register (external site)
• Factsheet for people in high risk occupations (PDF 163KB)
• Q fever – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports