Background

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, remains a significant zoonosis in Australia, with transmission occurring primarily through exposure to infected livestock, wildlife and contaminated environments. Over the past two decades there has been an ongoing burden of disease in rural and regional communities, particularly among working-age adults. These trends have highlighted the need for strong coordination between veterinary and public health sectors.

Methods

This project aimed to develop a model for quantifying the epidemiological and economic impacts of a dispersed Q fever outbreak in Australia, then estimate optimal vaccination strategies for at-risk populations and provide evidence-based guidance for veterinary public health policy.

Results

Population projections for the next 20 years were incorporated into analyses of trends in National Notifiable Disease Surveillance Data to estimate future at-risk populations in growing regional areas, and a Q fever scenario tree was constructed. Structured expert interviews were conducted to inform key modelling parameters.

The modelling estimated that twice as many cases were occurring than those recorded in the national notification data in Queensland (point estimate 341; 95% credible interval: 43 to 1,018) per year. These updated estimates are being used alongside detailed estimation of public health impacts, the true economic cost of Q fever and vaccination requirements for specific populations.

Conclusion

By integrating epidemiological evidence, demographic projections, and economic evaluation within a One Health framework, this project has provided actionable insights to strengthen veterinary public health preparedness for Q fever across Australia.

This work was supported by funding from CSL Seqirus.