Q fever patients were put in the spotlight in Herpen on Saturday afternoon. During a summer event, there was a lot of attention for the consequences of Q fever, in the village where the first outbreak of the epidemic took place sixteen years ago.
Mayor of Oss Wobine Buijs (VVD) and King’s Commissioner Ina Adema (VVD), among others, were guests at the Alard van Herpenplein in Herpen. Furthermore, Q fever patients from all over the Netherlands came to Herpen with their loved ones to reflect on what the disease means to them. “Very nice that this is here,” says a visitor. “You are with like-minded people. People know what you are going through.” Another visitor says: “Sometimes we are a bit forgotten. But an event like this gives the feeling that that is not the case.”
‘People are not alone’
The event was an initiative of the Question Foundation, which is committed to people affected by the disease. “With an event like this, we want to give people the feeling that they are not alone,” says chairperson of Stichting Q-uestion and co-organiser Caroline van Kessel. “I notice it in the people; they are happy to be able to share their story with each other.”
According to Van Kessel, the existence of Q fever has faded into the background in recent years: “In the Netherlands, we must absolutely not forget what these people have been through. They still experience the consequences of their infection every day.” Living with an infection is tough, Van Kessel knows: “Not everyone who is infected can be here today. It’s just physically and mentally too heavy for them, with all those stimuli. The people who are there will have to recover from this day out for days.”
Hertog Jan award
A special role was reserved for general practitioner Alfons Olde Loohuis. Loohuis discovered the epidemic in Herpen in 2007. For all his efforts he was awarded the Hertog Jan during the afternoon. This is an award for people from Brabant who have made special efforts in a certain social area for a long period of time. He received the award from the King’s Commissioner Ina Adema. “Enormously important that an event like this is organized”, says Loohuis.
Moment of commemoration
During the afternoon there was also a moment of remembrance, during which singer Trijntje Oosterhuis sang a song for the victims. 116 people in the Netherlands have died from the consequences of Q fever. 1500 people are chronically ill due to their infection.
There was also room for socializing. Visitors could find support from each other in a casual atmosphere. At the same time, they received an update on new medical research regarding the disease. Former racing driver Jan Lammers gave a motivational lecture. And singer Douwe Bob ended the afternoon musically.
Watch the Dtv news broadcast for a report on the event on Monday evening.
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2023-07-16 14:06:34
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