Q fever case spike in Queensland, Australia drives renewed push for more accessible vaccine for "nasty" bacterial disease
Queensland, Australia health experts have been mystified by an unusual spike in cases of Q fever. There have been 89 reported infections across the state so far this year, an increase of almost 90 per cent on the same time in 2023. Townsville's Public Health Unit director Dr Steven Donohue said that the current case numbers were unusually high in light of the recent wet summer.
The surge in cases has sparked renewed calls for a more accessible and affordable vaccine. Q-Vax is the only vaccination for Q fever in the world and is only available in Australia. It is recommended for people aged 15 years and older whose work involves contact with high-risk animals such as abattoir employees, shearers, vets, and animal refuge workers. But Dr Donohue said he would like to see a wider take up of the vaccine.
Dr Steven Graves (Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory) said the current vaccine, while effective, was expensive and inaccessible. Dr Graves and his team were tasked with creating a new and improved vaccine in 2020. He hopes it will be available to the public, including children, in the next five years.
Adapted from www.abc.net.au (March, 14, 2024)
