infections
Q Fever
Prevention of Q Fever
Measures to prevent Q fever involve mainly using appropriate sanitation and testing (for the bacteria) in facilities where sheep, cattle, and goats are kept. Consuming only pasteurized milk and milk products can also help. In Australia, a vaccine is available and has been used to prevent the infection in people likely to be exposed (such as slaughterhouse and dairy workers, livestock farmers, and laboratory workers). This vaccine is not available in the United States. Before giving people the vaccine, doctors do blood and skin tests to determine whether people already have immunity to Q fever. If people already have immunity, vaccinating them can cause severe reactions near the injection site. 