'At least two have died with Q fever'

Thursday 25 June 2009

At least two people have died suffering from the flu-like Q fever in the Den Bosch area, microbiologist Peter Wever told news agency ANP on Thursday.

Both had been admitted to hospital after the diagnosis, but they may have died of complications or other factors, Wever, from the Jeroen Bosch hospital in Den Bosch, told ANP.

And given that between 1% and 2% of people admitted to hospital with the disease die, more deaths should be expected, he said. Some 600 people have been hospitalised with Q fever, ANP said, without giving a time frame.

Q fever was rarely known among humans until 2007, when 168 cases were reported. Last year there were more than 1,000 instances in the Netherlands.

The disease is spread by livestock which shed the bacteria in urine, faeces, birth products and milk.Q fever, which leads to spontaneous abortion in sheep and goats, causes flu-like symptoms in humans but can lead to lung infections.

© DutchNews.nl

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