title: Q Fever Outbreak Among Travelers to Germany Who Received Live Cell Therapy--United States and Canada, 2014.
abstract: During September–November 2014, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was notified of five New York state residents who had tested seropositive for Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. All five patients had symptoms compatible with Q fever (e.g., fever, fatigue, chills, and headache) and a history of travel to Germany to receive a medical treatment called "live cell therapy" (sometimes called "fresh cell therapy") in May 2014. Live cell therapy is the practice of injecting processed cells from organs or fetuses of nonhuman animals (e.g., sheep) into human recipients. It is advertised to treat a variety of health conditions. This practice is unavailable in the United States; however, persons can travel to foreign locations to receive injections. Local health departments interviewed the patients, and NYSDOH notified CDC and posted a report on CDC’s Epidemic Information Exchange to solicit additional cases. Clinical and exposure information for each patient was reported to the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, which forwarded the information to local health authorities. A Canada resident who also received live cell therapy in May 2014 was diagnosed with Q fever in July 2014. Clinicians should be aware of health risks, such as Q fever and other zoonotic diseases, among patients with a history of receiving treatment with live cell therapy products.
authors.forename: Misha P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Robyn
authors.forename: Alexandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walawander
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kothe
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nerone
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
authors.forename: Casey Barton
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Behravesh
authors.forename: Holly M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: F Scott
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.forename: Emily G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pieracci
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sider
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozaldin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blog
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057193:Medical Tourism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission