Editing Fever Q (section)

==Epidemiology==
[[Image:Coxiella burnetii 01.JPG|thumb|right|''C. burnetii'', the Q fever-causing agent]]

The pathogenic agent is found worldwide, with the exception of New Zealand.<ref name="pmid17147957">{{cite journal |vauthors=Cutler SJ, Bouzid M, Cutler RR |title=Q fever |journal=J. Infect. |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=313–8 |date=April 2007 |pmid=17147957 |doi=10.1016/j.jinf.2006.10.048 }}</ref> The bacterium is extremely sustainable and virulent: a single organism is able to cause an infection. The common source of infection is inhalation of contaminated dust, contact with contaminated milk, meat, or wool, and particularly birthing products. [[Ticks]] can transfer the pathogenic agent to other animals. Transfer between humans seems extremely rare and has so far been described in very few cases.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Some studies have shown more men to be affected than women,<ref name="pmid10589906">{{cite journal |vauthors=Domingo P, Muñoz C, Franquet T, Gurguí M, Sancho F, Vazquez G |title=Acute Q fever in adult patients: report on 63 sporadic cases in an urban area |journal=Clin. Infect. Dis. |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=874–9 |date=October 1999 |pmid=10589906 |doi=10.1086/520452}}</ref><ref name="pmid3301708">{{cite journal |vauthors=Dupuis G, Petite J, Péter O, Vouilloz M |title=An important outbreak of human Q fever in a Swiss Alpine valley |journal=Int J Epidemiol |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=282–7 |date=June 1987 |pmid=3301708 |doi= 10.1093/ije/16.2.282}}</ref> which may be attributed to different employment rates in typical professions.{{cn|date=June 2021}}

“At risk” occupations include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000611.htm|title=Q fever: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia|website=medlineplus.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
* [[Veterinary]] personnel
* [[Feedlot|Stockyard]] workers
* [[Farmer]]s
* [[Sheep shearer]]s
* Animal transporters
* Laboratory workers handling potentially infected veterinary samples or visiting [[abattoir]]s
* People who cull and process [[kangaroos]]
* Hide ([[Tanning (leather)|tannery]]) workers