Q fever: risk of transmission via blood or other body material

Q fever is a zoonosis – an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans – caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). A major outbreak of Q fever has occurred in the Netherlands, starting in 2007. The Dutch government took various veterinary measures and, based on earlier advisory reports from the Health Council of the Netherlands, offered vaccination against Q fever to certain specified patient groups. In the most recent report on Q fever the Health Council recommends that, before making a decision about screening blood donors for Q fever, a model based analysis be performed of the expected costs and effects of such screening. Concerning body material, the Health Council recommends serological testing of donors of body materials with a higher risk of Q fever transmission for infection with C. burnetii. For body material with a very low risk of transmission such measures are not thought to be necessary.

Committee

• Prof. E.J. Ruitenberg, Emeritus Professor of Immunology, Utrecht University; Professor of International Public Health, VU University, Amsterdam, chairman
• Prof. J.G. Aarnoudse, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre, Groningen
• M. Augustijn, MSc, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, The Hague, observer
• Prof. C. Boog, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Netherlands Vaccine Institute, Bilthoven
• Prof. W.J.H.M. van den Bosch, Professor of Health Care Innovation, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen
• Prof. A. Brand, Professor of Transfusion Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre
• Prof. E. Hak, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Groningen University
• Prof. J.A.P. Heesterbeek, Professor of Theoretical Epidemiology, Utrecht University
• W. van der Hoek, MSc, Doctor-Epidemiologist, Centre of infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, advisor
• M.M. Kraaij-Dirkzwager, MSc, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
• F.J.M. van Linden, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
• Prof. J.W.M. van der Meer, Professor of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen
• Dr J.H. Ovelgönne, Medicines Evaluation Board, The Hague, advisor
• Dr P. Schneeberger, Medical Microbiologist, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch
• Prof. H.A. Verbrugh, Professor of Medical Microbiology, Erasumus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Dr M.F. Verweij, Ethicist, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University
• Prof. H.L. Zaaijer, Medical doctor Microbiologist, Academic Medical Centre, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, advisor
• F.G. van Zijderveld, MSc, Bacteriologist, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen
• Dr K. Groeneveld, Medical Immunologist, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary

Consulted expert

• Dr H.A. Bijlmer, Consensus Group on Q fever diagnostics, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven