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An outbreak of Q fever in a prison in Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2004

G. STARNINI
Affiliation:
Penitentiary Department, Ministry of Justice, Roma
F. CACCAMO
Affiliation:
Penitentiary Department, Ministry of Justice, Roma
F. FARCHI
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
S. BABUDIERI
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Clinic, University of Sassari, Italy
B. BRUNETTI
Affiliation:
Penitentiary Department, Ministry of Justice, Roma
G. REZZA
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
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Abstract

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We observed an outbreak of Q fever in a prison population. Overall, 65 of the 600 prison inmates developed the disease. The location of the prison cells had no apparent effect on the risk of infection. The outbreak was probably due to exposure to dust contaminated by a passing flock of sheep, which at the time of the outbreak was engaged in lambing. These findings highlight the possible emergence of Q fever in settings and populations not normally thought of as being at risk of exposure to the infection.

Type
Short Reports
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press