AgForce and the Q Fever Interest Group (QFIG) are calling for immediate government funding to tackle rising rates of Q fever in Australia — one of the highest-incident countries in the world for the debilitating disease.
Q fever is a flu-like illness caused by a bacterial infection, most commonly passed from cattle, sheep and goats to humans.
Queensland Health Infectious Diseases expert and QFIG member Dr Robert Horvath said Queensland accounts for about half of Australia’s cases, with research showing Queenslanders are eight times more likely to be diagnosed than people in NSW.
Dr Horvath is calling for increased research funding in response to a concerning rise in Q fever cases.
“Less than 10% of infections with Q fever are diagnosed, most are missed,” he said.
“We have been witnessing a largely persistent increase in case numbers in the past decade.
Dr Horvath said early intervention and diagnosis of Q Fever was critical to reduce the progression of the illness.
“Unfortunately, only a small proportion of people with chronic Q fever are diagnosed, and if it’s not treated quickly - it can become a chronic condition," he said.
For AgForce Policy Director Ruth Thompson, one of her biggest concerns is how difficult chronic Q fever is to manage in regional, rural and remote locations.
“What we’re really seeking is immediate funding to subsidise the existing Q fever vaccine,” Dr Thompson said.
“The cost of Q-Vax is hundreds of dollars which is stopping some people from getting the vaccination - even though it’s desperately needed.
“We really implore the government to better fund this and provide subsidised vaccination options - particularly for anyone who could potentially be exposed to Q fever.
“We also need more GPs available to administer this vaccination because that’s a barrier as well.”
Dr Horvath says a public awareness campaign along with increased training for doctors so they can better diagnose the disease would also reduce the risk of deadly complications.
“A University of Queensland research study in progress suggests there is a link between Q fever and living near a cattle-transport route - which is worrying because that involves no actual occupational exposure, and highlights the need for better treatment and prevention for a wider population,” he said.
“Some cases are severe, with admissions to ICU or death. Meningitis is not rare with this, however people rarely test for it, and instead treat with ineffective agents.”
While the existing Q-Vax vaccine is highly effective, it has several drawbacks, including a high risk of allergic reaction and the requirement for pre-pathology and multiple doctor visits, particularly when long travel distances are required.
“The development of a new vaccine without the 'reactogenicity' of the current Q-Vax vaccine would eliminate the need for the complicated pre-testing process, and would enable boosters every 10-20 years to ensure life-long protection,” Dr Horvath said.
“Stephen Graves at the ARRL (Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory) in Geelong is in the early stages of developing such a vaccine but is seeking $1.4million to progress this vaccine towards human trials.
“We cannot let such a potentially significant medical breakthrough for such a devastating disease fall over because of a lack of funding.”
The organisations are also calling for more financial support for epidemiology projects to investigate the effects of Q fever in pregnancy, early childhood, Indigenous Australians, and high-prevalence regions to design more effective targeted vaccination and education campaigns.