Q fever outbreak in Slovakia

 An outbreak of Q fever in humans occurred in the village of Ráztočno, Prievidza district, Slovakia, representing the first local human cases in more than three decades. The outbreak was first reported in late July 2025, when at least 11 Ráztočno residents in the Prievidza district were hospitalised with pneumonia and elevated liver enzymes. Shortly afterwards, health authorities confirmed the diagnosis of Q fever, an infectious disease typically transmitted from livestock to humans by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii.Initial investigations carried out on farms in the area did not identify the source of the infections. Despite extensive efforts such as veterinarians inspecting large and small farms, as well as searching for unregistered farms in the area, the source of the Q fever outbreak had not been identified by the end of August 2025.
The last documented Q fever outbreak in Slovakia occurred in Jedľové Kostoľany in the Zlaté Moravce district in 1993 and was successfully controlled. This outbreak was linked livestock giving birth on open pastures.

Original articles:
Slovak Academy of Sciences vom 05.08.2025 (englisch)
The Slovak Spectator vom 07.08.2025 (englisch)
TERAZ.SK vom 27.08.25 (slovakisch)
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