Why was Q-GAPS initiated?
Q fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii affecting humans and animals.
Q-GAPS (Q fever GermAn Interdisciplinary Program for reSearch) is an interdisciplinary and unique consortium of different disciplines with exceptional expertise, competence and know-how that will implement the “One Health” approach to Q fever. “One Health” is defined as a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach - working at local, regional, national, and global levels - to achieve optimal health outcomes by recognising the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.
Q-GAPS is committed to investigating unsolved questions related to the epidemiology, immunology, pathogenesis, surveillance and control of Coxiella burnetii. All results obtained will be integrated into an interactive database and made available to the public. Also, Q fever guidelines will be provided to assist the public health service in detecting, monitoring and controlling Coxiella burnetii.
We will also invite practicing medical doctors, veterinarians, representatives from Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), representatives from Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and those working in the field of public health to Q-GAPS symposia; in order to adapt the interactive database and Q fever guidelines to public health requirements. A better exchange of information between the reporting systems TSN (veterinary medicine) and SurvStat (human medicine) is required, to gain better control of Q fever in Germany. The Q-GAPS consortium will act in an advisory role to support all parties involved in this issue.
