No cases of Q fever yet in RITM, San Lazaro Hospital

FILE PHOTO: An ambulance enters the main gates of the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on February 2, 2020. San Lazaro Hospital is among hospitals supervised and controlled by the Department of Health. (Photo by Maria TAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — There have been no recorded infections of Query fever, or Q fever, at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the San Lazaro Hospital yet, Philippine College of Physicians President Rontgene Solante said on Monday.

He said Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria from animals, particularly goats and cattle, which can be transmitted to humans. It also rarely causes severe infections, with human-to-human transmission being uncommon.

“Right now we haven’t recorded anything, usually when it comes to infections like this the referral is RITM or San Lazaro Hospital because of our capacity, good isolation rooms, and experience with COVID-19. So far we haven’t brought any infections like this,” Solante said in Filipino during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

“Q fever is very rare in the Philippines, it is usually common in Western Countries in imported goats that are infected,” he added.

However, those who handle reservoir animals, such as goats and cattle, remain the most vulnerable population to the disease.

“Our advice here is that people who raise goats, especially, must protect themselves. Wear gloves and wear something that won’t allow you to get splashed with animal fluids,” Solante said in Filipino.

He also recommended using face masks, especially when handling the feces of such animals.

Common symptoms of Q fever include fever, cough, and body aches.

While severe infections are rare, the disease may also result in endocarditis, or the inflammation of the heart, and encephalitis, or the inflammation of the brain.

The Department of Health said it is conducting a study on whether Q Fever poses a risk to humans.

READ: DOH says ongoing study to determine risk of Q Fever to humans