Investigation of Q Fever Cluster in Changhua County, 2021

Yu-Chun Chang^*, Kung-Ching Wang, Min-Tsung Lin, Shao Hui Tsai, Ching-Fen Ko, Jhy-Wen Wu

2024 Vol.40 No.9

Correspondence Author： Yu-Chun Chang^*

Abstract：

        From April to August 2021, 8 patients in Changhua County were diagnosed with Q fever. Seven of them lived in Tianzhong town, and one lived in Xihu town. The local health department conducted an epidemiological investigation and found that these cases were geographically related, and livestock farms were identified within 5 kilometers of their residences. Because Q fever pathogens may be transmitted through air, we speculated that the cluster might be caused by aerosol from stock breeding. 
        Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and the Changhua County Government implemented various prevention and control measures, reminding medical institutions to report suspected cases and conducting educational workshops for veterinarians and livestock farm staff to increase alertness. Others included environmental disinfection of livestock farms, monitoring the abortion rate of livestock animals, and proper disposal. All the efforts from the central and local governments, including epidemic investigation and prevention, provide a reference for management of similar scenarios in the future. 

Keywords：Q fever, Coxiella burnetii, livestock farms, epidemic investigation, zoonoses