Q Fever

Q Fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. It can be found in animals such as sheep, cattle, goats, cats, and dogs. It is spread to humans by inhaling dust contaminated by infected animals’ urine, milk, stool, and other fluids or by direct contact with these contaminated items.

Local Information

2024 Statistics

Incidence rate is the number of new cases of disease divided by the number of persons at risk for the disease a particular time period.

Cases:
0*

*Indicates confirmed cases in 2024

Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2024: 0

Incidence rate per 100,000 of Q Fever by year

A line graph showing the crude rate and five year moving average of Q Fever by year within the Health Unit region between 2015 and 2024

Data Sources

Case Counts: Public Health Ontario. Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on January 16, 2025.
Population estimates: Statistics Canada 2014-2022, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
Population projections: Statistics Canada, 2023, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.

More Information about Q Fever

Reporting

Should one go to childcare, school, or work if they have Q Fever?

Vaccine Information

While a vaccine is available, it is not readily available in Canada. The use of this vaccine should be limited to those at high risk of exposure whose blood tests for resistance to Q fever are negative. Check your vaccination records or call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5252 to book a vaccination appointment or to obtain additional information.

Healthcare Provider Information

Contact our Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229, or by email to cdc@healthunit.ca for more information.

Last updated: February 2025, by CDC