Q fever
Q fever is a bacterial infection you can catch from infected farm animals such as sheep, cattle and goats. It's usually harmless, but can cause serious problems in some people.
Symptoms of Q fever
Q fever does not always cause symptoms. Some people get flu-like symptoms within 2 to 3 weeks of being infected, such as:
- a high temperature (fever)
- aching muscles
- tiredness
- feeling sick
- a sore throat
- swollen glands
Symptoms of Q fever usually last up to 2 weeks.
How Q fever is spread
Q fever is most often spread to humans by close contact with infected farm animals.
The bacteria can be spread by contact with:
- afterbirth (placenta)
- blood
- pee
- poo
- hides, fur and wool
The bacteria in these products can be breathed in.
You can also get Q fever from drinking unpasteurised milk (milk that has not been heated to kill bacteria), but this is less likely.
Although Q fever is rare, people who work closely with animals are more at risk, such as farmers, vets, stablehands and abattoir workers.
See a GP if you think you have Q fever and:
- you're pregnant – Q fever can cause miscarriage and serious complications if it spreads to your baby, especially if you catch it early in pregnancy
- your immune system is weakened, for example if you have had an organ transplant or you're having chemotherapy – the infection may affect your eyes or brain
- you have heart valve disease – where 1 or more of your heart valves are diseased or damaged
Q fever is usually harmless, but in rare cases it can lead to serious problems.
Treatment from a GP
If a GP thinks you might have Q fever, they can arrange a blood test to see if you have been infected.
If you're pregnant and you test positive for Q fever, the GP can refer you for more tests to see if your baby has been infected. This is very rare.
If your symptoms are severe or they're not getting better, the GP may prescribe a 1- or 2-week course of antibiotics.
It's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.
How to prevent Q fever
There is currently no licensed vaccine for Q fever available in the UK. If you work with animals:
Do
wash your hands regularly
clean cuts or grazes immediately and cover them with a plaster or dressing
wear protective clothing, such as waterproof gloves and goggles
ensure all animal afterbirth (placenta) is cleaned up safely
Don't
do not help animals give birth if you're pregnant
do not touch anything that may have been in contact with animal blood, poo, pee or afterbirth, such as clothes, boots or gloves
do not drink milk that has not been heated yet to kill bacteria (unpasteurised)
do not eat in areas where animals are kept
Important
It's especially important for pregnant women to avoid contact with sheep and lambs during the lambing season, between January and April.
Do not touch anything that might have come into contact with ewes or lambs, such as gloves or boots.
Pregnant women who catch Q fever do not usually have any symptoms, so it's better to avoid any risk.
Find out more about why pregnant women should avoid sheep during the lambing season.
Chronic Q fever
In a few people with Q fever, the symptoms can last for months. This is known as chronic Q fever.
Chronic Q fever sometimes leads to serious heart problems, such as endocarditis.
People with chronic Q fever may need a much longer course of antibiotics and treatment in hospital for any complications that develop.
Page last reviewed: Mon Jan 2021 Next review due: Mon Jan 2021
