Doctors have no reports of Q fever

From the beginning of the year until yesterday, no cases of Q fever in humans were reported to the Institute for Public Health, although the disease was confirmed in animals on four farms in Nikšić.

"Inspection of the electronic database on the reporting of infectious diseases, which are received by doctors from all levels of health care, it was determined that no cases of Q fever were reported in Montenegro from January 1 to February 23," replied "Vijesti" from Institute. Q fever, the Institute explains, is an acute bacterial disease that manifests itself in humans with a high temperature.

"The onset can be sudden, followed by shivering, headache, weakness, malaise and heavy profuse sweating. There are great differences in the severity of the clinical picture and the duration of the disease. The infection can pass without clinical manifestations...", said the Institute.

Although veterinarians say that the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, the experts of the Institute say that the natural reservoirs are sheep, cattle, goats, cats, dogs, some wild animals, birds and ticks. They add that ticks participate in the transmission cycle between rodents, larger animals and birds.

"Infected animals, including sheep and domestic cats, are usually without symptoms, but they excrete pathogens massively during childbirth," they said.

The Institute replied that the disease is transmitted by the spread of bacteria found in dust, from surfaces contaminated with placental tissue, birth fluids and excreta of infected animals. They said that the disease is transmitted through direct contact with animals or through wool, hair, and clothing of infected people.

"Uncooked milk from infected cows contains pathogens and could be responsible for some cases of Q fever, but this is not sufficiently documented," said the Institute.

"Vijesti" announced yesterday that cow fever was discovered on four cow farms in Nikšić and that two cows died of the disease, while 20 were euthanized.

Important pasteurization of milk, limit access to livestock

The Institute for Public Health recommended restricting access to cows, sheep and laboratories where potentially infected animals are located.

"Pasteurization of cow's, goat's and sheep's milk at 62,70 degrees for 30 minutes, or at 71,60 degrees for 15 seconds, or boiling, inactivates C. burnetii," they said. This means that pasteurization reduces the ability of the bacterium, which is the causative agent of kyu fever, to cause infection or a pathogenic reaction.

The Institute pointed out that there is a need to educate the population about the sources of infection and the necessity of disinfection and proper removal of the placenta or the body of stillborn cubs.