Most farmers have heard of Q fever. However, you might be surprised by the number of people who don’t know just how dangerous the disease is – or how wide reaching it can be.
It’s for this reason that the Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group is embarking on a campaign to fill this knowledge gap and give farmers the information they need to know in order to manage the risk of Q fever.
The campaign, which is fully supported by Midfield Meats, is a prime example of the livestock supply chain working together to achieve an outcome that benefits the whole industry.
There will be industry workshops, preparedness toolkits and targeted advertising to promote the dangers of Q fever and the importance of vaccination.
Our aim is to increase awareness about the impacts on human health, highlighting the need to be immunised against the influenza-like disease which is carried by cattle, sheep, goats and feral animals such as rodents.
The disease can be transmitted to humans. It poses the greatest risk to people working with livestock, such as farmers, abattoir workers, veterinarians and animal handlers.
Every year, about 600 cases of Q fever are reported across Australia, so this is a massive issue for the industry.
Although most Q fever cases have been known to occur north of the border in Queensland and New South Wales, the disease still occurs in Victoria.
This is especially so when stock is introduced from interstate properties.
People who work with livestock have the greatest risk of contracting Q fever.
We need to ensure that producers and people in rural areas have the knowledge and the skills to manage the disease.
It’s vital for people handling livestock to understand the potential impact of Q fever on their health.
The campaign will spread right across next year.
By then, we hope to ensure the whole supply chain has taken the opportunity to improve their knowledge of Q fever and how they could be affected if they aren’t vaccinated against the disease.
For the latest information on the Victorian Farmers Federation, its policies and programs, visit www.vff.org.au.
Leonard Vallance, Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock President