Large Q fever outbreak due to sheep farming near residential areas, Germany, 2005.
In June 2005 Coxiella burnetii-infected sheep, grazing and lambing on a meadow bordering a residential area, caused a large Q fever outbreak (331 cases) in Germany. Our outbreak investigation provided attack rates (AR) by distance between residence and meadow, sex and age groups. The AR of people living within 50 m of the meadow was 11.8%. It decreased the further the residence was from the meadow, falling to 1.3% at 350-400 m distance (RR 8.7, 95% CI 4.5-17.1). The AR was higher in men (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8). In the 25-64 years age group, the AR was 2.3 times higher compared to other age groups (95% CI 1.7-3.0). The distance-related AR showed a relationship between risk of infection and living close to the meadow. Ongoing urbanization will probably lead to further Q fever outbreaks, hence prevention activities undertaken by animal and public health practitioners should be aligned and strengthened.
Gilsdorf
A
A
Field Epidemiology Training Program, Berlin, Germany. andreas.gilsdorf@gmail.com
Kroh
C
C
Grimm
S
S
Jensen
E
E
Wagner-Wiening
C
C
Alpers
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial