A SPIKE in Q Fever cases in Victoria up to more than double the annual incidence of the past five years has prompted a health advisory from the state’s chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri.

Dr Weeramanthri’s 5 February advisory said cases of Q fever in Victoria are increasing, with 77 cases notified last year, a significant increase compared to the previous five years.

There have been five outbreaks of Q fever notified in Victoria in 2024 between August and December, the advisory said.

Q fever is a disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii bacteria. It is mainly spread to humans from cattle, sheep and goats, but can also spread from other domestic and wild animals such as kangaroos, camels, rodents, cats, dogs, birds and wallabies. According to the advisory, the bacteria can stay in the environment for long periods of time and survive disinfection and harsh conditions. This means dust, hay and other small particles may also carry the bacteria.

Dr Weeramanthri told ABC Victorian Country Hour presenter Warwick Long today that anyone who works with animals is potentially at risk from the disease.

He said Victoria has not seen Q Fever cases as high as 2024 in Victoria since the early 2000s.

“As a comparison for the previous four or five years we saw around 30 cases per year in Victoria.

“So last year was unusually high.”

He said there were five clusters of Q Fever cases detected in occupational groups in 2024, and Gippsland has been disproportionately represented.

The Gippsland Public Health Unit at Latrobe Regional Hospital has reported a steady high number of Q fever cases over the last 10 years compared to the rest of the state. In 2023, Gippsland had the highest proportion of Q Fever cases in Victoria, 34.4 percent of total cases while constituting only 4.6pc of the Victorian population.

Dr Weeramanthri said the statewide case increase prompted the advisory to let people know, particularly in agricultural industries. He said there was a shortage of Q Fever vaccine last year, but this has been resolved.

“So there is vaccine available and we are just getting the message out to go and see your GP and get assessed for whether you are eligible and particularly as well whether you have had vaccine before or have had Q Fever before, because you should only get the vaccine if you’ve not had it before.”

Dr Weeramanthri said he could not give a definitive reason why Q Fever cases increased in 2024.

“There is more awareness of the disease now and we’ve got better tests so that might be one reason.

“But there may just be increased interaction, increased work in these particular industries,” he said.

Dr Weeramanthri said generally employers knew what to do in terms of minimising the risks and WorkSafe was also aware of Q Fever risk in particular industries.

Dr Weeramanthri said the five outbreaks or cluster were in particular industries, including abattoir workers in intense contact with animal products and humans. Q Fever generally starts in a high risk occupational setting.

“But you can also see it right through the chain, of you like, of agricultural production, because you can have this disease transmitted not just by direct contact with birds etcetera, but also by aerosols

“It can be transmitted at a distance and the organism lives in the environment and can actually stay alive in the environment,” he said.

“So you can get infected down the track or even families of workers can get infected if you take clothes home etcetera and wash them.”

Dr Weeramanthri said people should be aware that Q Fever is still around.

“Despite the best efforts of employers you can still contract it at your workplace so we need to maintain vigilance in te3rms of good practice in workplaces.

“There is also an effective vaccine and the shortage has been resolved so you should participate in your workplace screening programs and get vaccinated if that’s indicated.”

Click here to read the full Victorian Department of Health Q Fever health advisory.

Easier access to Q Fever vaccination needed in rural areas

Microbiologist and medical director of the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory De Stephen Graves told Sheep Central the official Q fever notification figures are very suspect because most cases are not being identified. The ARRL provides a diagnostic service for rickettsial diseases including Q fever and more recently COVID19.

“Rural and regional communities need easier access to vaccination,” Dr Graves said.