Sheep, goats need Q fever vaccination

Thursday 02 July 2009

All sheep and goats in the Netherlands should be vaccinated against Q fever to eradicate the disease, the RIVM public health institute told Nos tv on Wednesday evening.

Q fever was relatively unknown in humans prior to 2007 but last year there were some 1,000 cases.

The disease leads to flu-like symptoms in adults but can cause lung problems in around 20% of cases. At least two people with Q fever have died so far this year.

Farm minister Gerda Verburg dismissed the call for a national vaccination programme, saying it was unnecessary and there was not enough vaccine available.

© DutchNews.nl

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