Q Fever 
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

• Contact with ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats remains the most common exposure for Minnesota Q fever cases.  
• It can be difficult to identify how Q fever cases are exposed when they do not have clear animal or foodborne exposure, especially in chronic cases that could have been exposed years previously. 

In 2023, three confirmed cases of Q fever were reported, including one acute case and two chronic cases. It was unable to be determined how the acute Q fever case was exposed. One of the chronic cases was likely exposed by goats on her property. She developed endocarditis and an aortic valve graft infection.  It was unable to be determined how the other chronic Q fever case was exposed.  

From 1997 to 2023, 40 confirmed acute Q fever cases and 13 chronic Q fever cases among Minnesota residents were reported. The median age of acute cases was 58 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 58 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Thirty-three (87%) of the 38 cases for whom both race and ethnicity were known identified as white, non-Hispanic; four (11%) identified as Black, non-Hispanic; and one (3%) identified as mixed race, non-Hispanic. Thirty-two (82%) of the 39 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with animals, four (11%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and three (8%) were likely exposed through a tick bite. Eleven (31%) of the 35 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related occupation at the time of their exposure. 

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Q fever is an acute to chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animals or animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites. In 2022, eight confirmed cases of Q fever were reported, including one chronic case and seven acute cases. The confirmed chronic case was a 78-year-old male whose illness included sepsis and osteomyelitis. He had not been diagnosed as an acute Q fever case previously and his exposure was unknown. The median age of the acute cases was 51 years (range, 27 to 55 years). Six (86%) acute cases were male. Six (86%) identified as white, one (14%) identified as Black, and all identified as non-Hispanic. Two (29%) reported drinking unpasteurized milk internationally, two (29%) reported direct contact with goats or cattle, one (14%) likely had an indirect exposure to contaminated clothing, and two (29%) had unknown exposures. The case with indirect exposure lived with two roommates who worked on a sheep farm and did not change clothes after they came home from work. He did not have any other plausible exposures. Six (86%) acute cases were hospitalized for a median of 4 days (range, 1 to 14 days). Two cases developed hepatosplenomegaly as a result of their infection, one case developed sepsis, and one developed duodenitis. From 1997 to 2022, 39 confirmed acute Q fever cases and 12 chronic Q fever cases were reported. The median age of acute cases was 58 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 69 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Thirty-one (82%) of the 35 cases for whom both race and ethnicity were known identified as White, non-Hispanic; four (11%) identified as Black, non-Hispanic; and one (3%) identified as mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 31 (82%) of the 38 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with animals; four (11%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products; and three (8%) were likely exposed through a tick bite. Eleven (32%) of the 34 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related occupation at the time of their exposure.

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Q fever is an acute to chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animals or animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites. In 2021, six confirmed cases of Q fever were reported, including one chronic case and five acute cases. The confirmed chronic case was a 71-year-old male whose illness included splenomegaly, vasculitis, and endocarditis. He was likely exposed through drinking raw milk in the past. The median age of the acute cases was 36 years (range, 9 to 67 years); all were male. Four (80%) identified as white, one (20%) identified as Black, and all identified as non-Hispanic. All were likely exposed through contact with animals, including goats, camels, and sheep. One (20%) case was likely acquired internationally. Three (60%) cases were hospitalized for a median of 3 days (range, 3 to 17 days). Three (60%) acute cases developed hepatitis as a result of their infection, one (20%) developed hepatosplenomegaly, and one (20%) developed myocarditis. From 1997 to 2021, 32 confirmed acute cases and 11 chronic cases of Q fever were reported. The median age of acute cases was 60 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was also 60 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Twentyfour (86%) of the 28 cases for which both race and ethnicity were known identified as White, non-Hispanic; 3 (11%) identified as Black, nonHispanic; and 1 (4%) identified as mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 26 (79%) of the 33 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with animals; 4 (12%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products; and, 3 (9%) were likely exposed through a tick bite. Ten (36%) of the 28 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related occupation at the time of their exposure

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Q fever is an acute or chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary 14 DCN 48;1 2022 Murray Pine Aitkin Hubbard Cass Wilkin Itasca St. Louis Cook Washington Lake Le Sueur Rice Goodhue Rock Nobles Jackson Martin Faribault Freeborn Mower Fillmore Houston Winona Olmsted Cottonwood Watonwan Blue Earth Waseca Steele Dodge Pipestone Nicollet Wabasha Dakota Scott Isanti Brown Sibley Carver Meeker Wright Kandiyohi Renville Redwood Sherburne Lincoln Lyon Yellow Medicine Lac Qui Parle Swift Big Stone Traverse Stevens Pope Chippewa Stearns Benton Carlton Kanabec Mille Lacs Crow Wing Morrison Wadena Todd Grant Douglas Otter Tail Clay Becker Clear Water Norman Mahnomen Red Lake Pennington Polk Beltrami Marshall Koochiching Lake of the Woods Kittson Roseau McLeod Ramsey Anoka Hennepin Chisago * Placement of symbol in county does not represent exact geographical location of the case. Species No. Skunk 5 Cow 1 Bat 34 sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites. In 2020, 3 confirmed cases were reported, all acute. One case was a 67-year-old male who had a tick bite prior to getting ill. The other two cases were a 69 year-old male and a 63 year-old male, whose exposures are unknown All 3 cases were hospitalized for 38, 7, and 18 days, respectively. All cases survived. From 1997 to 2020, 28 confirmed acute cases, and 10 chronic cases were reported. The median age of acute cases was 61 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 66 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Twenty (87%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic; 2 (9%) were black, non-Hispanic; and 1 (5%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 23 (79%) of the 29 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (10%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 3 (10%) through a tick bite. Nine (43%) of the 21 cases with known occupations were currently employed in an agriculturerelated occupation.

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Q fever is an acute or chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites.

In 2019, 4 confirmed cases were reported, 2 acute and 2 chronic. The acute cases were a 45 year-old and 69 year-old, 1 of whom was likely exposed through lambing sheep, the other through contact with cattle. The chronic cases were a 74 year-old and a 78 year-old who both likely had animal exposures. All 4 cases were hospitalized; the acute cases were hospitalized for 6 and 7 days respectively, and the chronic cases were hospitalized for 18 and 10 days respectively. All cases survived.

From 1997 to 2019, 25 confirmed acute cases, and 10 chronic cases were reported. The median age of acute cases was 59 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 66 years (range, 5 to 78 years). Seventeen (85%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic; 2 (10%) were black, non-Hispanic; and 1 (5%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 23 (82%) of the 28 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (11%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 2 (7%) through a tick bite. Nine (47%) of the 19 cases with known occupations were currently employed in an agriculture-related occupation.

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Q fever is an acute or chronic illness caused by Coxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary sources of infection. Transmission can occur through contact with infected animal tissue, inhalation of aerosolized bacteria, ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and tick bites.

In 2018, 4 confirmed cases were reported, 2 acute and 2 chronic. The acute Q fever cases were a 70 year-old and 77 year-old, 1 of whom was likely exposed through cattle contact, the other had an undetermined exposure. The chronic cases were a 5 year-old and a 71 year-old who both likely had sheep exposures. All 4 cases were hospitalized; the acute cases were hospitalized for 2 and 31 days respectively, and the chronic cases were hospitalized for 8 and 13 days respectively. All cases survived.

From 1997 to 2018, 23 confirmed acute cases, and 8 chronic cases were reported. The median age of acute cases was 59 years (range, 11 to 77 years); the median age of chronic cases was 53 years (range, 5 to 75 years). Thirteen (81%) cases for which both race and ethnicity were known were white, non-Hispanic; 2 (13%) were black, non-Hispanic; and 1 (6%) was mixed race, non-Hispanic. During this time, 19 (79%) of the 24 cases for whom exposure information was available were likely exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, 3 (13%) were likely exposed through ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products, and 2 (8%) through a tick bite. Eight (53%) of the 15 cases with known occupations were employed in an agriculture-related occupation.

• Find up to date information at>> Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).