The long-term impacts of Q fever are proving far more severe than anticipated. At Jeroen Bosch Hospital's Q fever clinic, specialists expect several hundred patients to progress to chronic Q fever, sparking concerns of an impending epidemic.
A hospital spokesperson confirmed this Wednesday, following a NOS report on the consequences of Q fever. So far, around 4,000 acute cases have been documented. In 1 to 5 percent of patients, the disease develops into a chronic form, which can become life-threatening.
Q fever bacteria are released in massive quantities during miscarriages in infected goats and sheep, spreading through the air. Most people experience mild or no symptoms from infection. Roughly one in five develop serious symptoms like pneumonia. In chronic Q fever, the bacteria can embed in heart valves and blood vessels, leading to potentially fatal hemorrhages.
Read more about Q fever here
Jeroen Bosch Hospital is leading research into chronic Q fever alongside facilities in Nijmegen and Utrecht, backed by €3 million in funding.
