Are Q fever patients more likely to get the coronavirus? RIVM is going to investigate this, much to the relief of patient Bert Brunninkhuis. “People who had Q fever are in the corner where the blows fall.”
During the first wave of the corona virus, the biggest hot spots were in Southeast Brabant, coincidentally in the same region where tens of thousands of people developed Q fever between 2007 and 2011. But is that a coincidence?
Greater chance of corona?
Since the first wave, Bert Brunninkhuis from Den Bosch has been fighting for an investigation into a possible relationship between the corona virus and Q fever. “In my opinion, the trouble spots here in the region are related to the many people who have Q fever,” says Brunninkhuis.
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He is happy that there is now an investigation, as are other patients Heart of the Netherlands Friday spoke. The RIVM is going to research or people who Q–fever have a higher chance of getting corona, and whether they are more likely to be infected with the virus.
‘More susceptible to pneumonia’
He himself has also had the bacterial infectious disease. “There is a time before and a time after the Q fever”, he experiences it. Every day Brunninkhuis still suffers from the disease he had years ago.
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“You therefore run at low revs, you are very tired. You are much more prone to pneumonia, problems with breathing, and inflammation in your body at all. ”
Many corona deaths in area Q fever
Brunninkhuis has therefore been on guard since the outbreak of the corona virus. “The combination of Q fever, being older and corona makes me very careful. I’m not scared but watch out. Especially in this region, southeast of Den Bosch, quite a few people died during the first corona wave, ”says Brunninkhuis.
According to Brunninkhuis, Q fever patients are “in the corner where the blows fall”. And if it is also shown that this group is more susceptible to the corona virus, the government should warn about this, he thinks.
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The research is carried out by the RIVM, the GGD Hart voor Brabant, the Nivel research institute and the Jeroen Bosch Hospital. About 1,200 Q fever patients who have previously participated in a study, will receive a questionnaire in January.
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