For the first time since 2016, Q fever has been found in the Netherlands, namely on a farm with dairy sheep in Brakel, Gelderland. Probably only one or a few young sheep are infected with the bacteria, outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema reports in a letter to Parliament.
The contamination was found during the regular mandatory tank milk testing for milk supplying goat and sheep farms. The result value suggests that it concerns only one or a few animals out of a total of 83 dairy sheep.
The infection is probably from some of the 35 young unvaccinated ewes on the farm. Of this group, 25 lambed and became lactating. The positive milk sample was found after these animals had lambed.
Company blocked
After finding the contaminated milk sample, the company was blocked. The sample was examined again at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, which confirmed the result. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) subsequently took samples that also turned out to be positive. The company was then officially declared infected.
The NVWA has started an investigation and enforcement process. If there are violations with regard to the vaccination obligation, an administrative fine will be imposed.
Vaccination required for first coverage
Sheep and goats on farms with more than fifty dairy sheep or farms with a public function must be vaccinated against Q fever twice before the first mating or insemination. The vaccination must be repeated every year.
Because unvaccinated animals may have been taken to other (dairy) sheep farms, the NVWA is conducting a contact investigation. The authority is also investigating whether there are risks for other animals on the infected farm. It still has 450 cattle (dairy cattle and suckler cows), some horses and seven dogs.
