Abstract
Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, can be transmitted from animal reservoirs to humans by the inhalation of infected aerosols. We investigated the epidemiology of Q fever in the Bouches-du-Rhone district of southern France, particularly the role of wind and rainfall in C. burnetii transmission. During the winter of 1998 to 1999, an unexpected number of cases were diagnosed in the area. This statistically higher incidence was associated with an increased frequency of the mistral 1 month before onset of disease, i.e., shortly after the main lambing season. These data confirm that wind plays a role in C. burnetii transmission, a factor that can be monitored but not prevented. Further studies are needed to identify and confirm preventable individual behavioral risk factors for Q fever.
Highlights
Qfever, a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, can be transmitted from animal reservoirs to humans by the inhalation of infected aerosols
C. burnetii transmission is multifactorial, we speculated that the high incidence of Q fever in the study area was related to aerosol spread of organisms because the mistral blows through the local steppe where 70,000 sheep are bred (Figure 1)
This study was designed to confirm this hypothesis and find an explanation for the unusual peak of Q fever cases that occurred during the winter of 1998 to 1999
Summary
A worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, can be transmitted from animal reservoirs to humans by the inhalation of infected aerosols. During the winter of 1998 to 1999, an unexpected number of cases were diagnosed in the area This statistically higher incidence was associated with an increased frequency of the mistral 1 month before onset of disease, i.e., shortly after the main lambing season. These data confirm that wind plays a role in C. burnetii transmission, a factor that can be monitored but not prevented. The main peak of Q fever cases occurs in April and May in the disease-hyperendemic area, 1 month after the second lambing season, which takes place when the strongest winds blow. At the time of the main lambing, in October and November, the wind is infrequent, leading to a small number of Q fever cases
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