NSW Farmers are calling on the NSW Health Minister to turn his attention to combating Q fever, a debilitating disease that spreads from infected animals to people.
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President of NSW Farmers Derek Schoen said he was encouraged by the Government’s move to protect senior school students against meningococcal but wants steps taken for people living in rural areas as many people aren’t vaccinated against Q fever.
“We want to ensure that people in the bush have access to quality health services,” Mr Schoen said.
NSW Farmers are urging the Government to take notice of the fast rising Q fever notifications and with the infection frequently hard to diagnose it is important to bring awareness of the organism into rural communities.
“There are many more cases of Q fever than meningococcal each year, yet there is little community awareness of the disease and inadequate immunisation coverage among the general population,” Mr Schoen said.
Up to 25 percent of people diagnosed with Q fever do not fully recover, with many sufferers going on to develop long-term chronic fatigue.
In some cases Q fever can also be fatal.
“It’s not just farmers and meat workers being struck down with Q fever,” Mr Schoen said.
“New South Wales residents are at increasing risk of exposure from domestic cats and dogs, as well as wildlife.”
Australia has one of the highest rates of Q fever in the world, and New South Wales is considered to be a hotspot for infection according to NSW Farmers.
“We are asking the Government to fund testing and vaccination clinics for people at risk of Q fever, as well as better training for rural health practitioners and a public awareness campaign,” Mr Schoen said.
Q Fever is caused by the organism, Coxiella burnetii.
The organism can exist in a variety of animals including cats, dogs and livestock without the animals showing any sign of infection.
An infected animal is able to pass on the organism through it’s urine, faeces, milk as well as through birthing young where the organisms in the placenta are particularly concentrated.
The fact that the organism is easily passed makes it easy for humans to become infected.
Infection in humans can occur through skin abrasions, infected material making contact with eyes or breathing in contaminated aerosols, which is the most common cause of infection in Australia.
Humans may inhale infected dust, formed from contaminated droplets and the organism-laden products from an infected animal, when it is blown - possibly for a kilometre or more - in dry and windy weather.
Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, profuse sweating, cough, severe headache, muscle pains and weakness.
