Dutch health minister Ab Klink has called for research into whether the bacteria which cause Q-fever lead to premature births in humans. The bacteria is spread during the premature birth of dairy goats.

Q-fever is found in both animals and humans. In humans it causes flu like symptoms and can lead to pneumonia. In some cases it leads to death. The disease has spread across a third of the Netherlands. This year alone 2200 people have contracted it, most of them in the southern rural province of Brabant, and at least six people have died.

Goats
To prevent further spread of the disease, goats are to be inoculated. Agriculture minister Gerda Verburg says, “This is not a voluntary measure. All measures are geared towards human health. An aborted goat is a pity for a farmer, but it is starting to affect humans.” The results of this measure will not be visible until next year. The cabinet also wants to prevent farms where animals have Q-fever from expanding. And in areas with high numbers of human Q-fever cases, ministers even want farms to be closed for a year.

In a debate in the Lower House on Wednesday, the minister said it is not likely that people will be vaccinated against the disease on a large scale. He has agreed to put the vaccine forward for registration, although he pointed out that there are unpleasant side-effects in people who have already had the disease. Christian Democrat MP Henk Jan Ormel pointed out that in Australia 55,000 people had been vaccinated. There, he said, the worst side-effect had been itchiness.

Warning signs
Minister Klink dismissed the idea of placing warning signs in the affected areas as people know when they are at risk in certain areas. Mr Ormel believes signs like the ones warning against foot and mouth disease would help raise awareness among people entering the regions.

A total of 31 Q-fever studies are underway. In 2008 and 2009, three million euros was spent on research, the same amount is available for more international studies in the future.

Photo: Dairy goats - flickr/Kelt.'s