Q fever
Overview
Q fever is a bacterial infection you can catch from infected farm animals such as sheep, cattle and goats. It's usually harmless, but it can cause serious problems in some people.
Symptoms
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 temperatureaching musclestirednessfeeling sicka sore throatswollen glands Symptoms of Q fever usually last up to 2 weeks.
Treatment
If your Q fever symptoms are severe or they're not getting better, a GP may prescribe a course of antibiotics for 1 or 2 weeks. It's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.
Prevention
There is currently no licensed vaccine for Q fever available in the UK. If you work with animals: wash your hands regularly wash your hands regularly clean cuts or grazes immediately and cover them with a plaster or dressing clean cuts or grazes immediately and cover them with a plaster or dressing wear protective clothing, such as waterproof gloves and goggles wear protective clothing, such as waterproof gloves and goggles ensure all animal afterbirth (placenta) is cleaned up safely ensure all animal afterbirth (placenta) is cleaned up safely do not help animals give birth if you're pregnant do not help animals give birth if you're pregnant do not touch anything that has been near animal blood, poo, pee or afterbirth, such as clothes, boots or gloves do not touch anything that has been near animal blood, poo, pee or afterbirth, such as clothes, boots or gloves do not drink milk that has not been heated to kill bacteria (unpasteurised milk) do not drink milk that has not been heated to kill bacteria (unpasteurised milk) do not eat in areas where animals are kept do not eat in areas where animals are kept If you're pregnant, it's especially important to avoid contact with sheep and lambs during the lambing season, between January and April. Do not touch anything that has been near sheep or lambs, such as gloves or boots. If you catch Q fever while pregnant, you will usually have no symptoms, so it's better to avoid any risk. There is also a risk of catchingtoxoplasmosisfrom sheep and lambs during lambing season.