Un-herd and unaware: a retrospective serosurvey of Q fever exposure among dairy farmers in Gippsland, Australia
1
Gippsland Region Public Health Unit, Latrobe Regional Health, Traralgon, Victoria, Australia
2
Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
4
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic disease transmitted mainly via contaminated aerosols from infected livestock. Gippsland, a rural dairy and agricultural region in Victoria, Australia, experiences a high burden of disease. Notification data likely underestimate true burden due to variable clinical presentation, limited clinician awareness and reduced healthcare engagement among at risk populations. Vaccination is effective but underutilised. A subsidised Q Fever testing and vaccination initiative established by GippsDairy and Gippsland Region Public Health Unit enabled assessment of prior exposure within a high-risk workforce.
METHODS:
Dairy and livestock workers were recruited via GippsDairy, with testing and vaccination delivered at four Gippsland primary care clinics. A retrospective serosurvey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) participating between January - October 2025 using de-identified serology and skin prick test results. Survey data assessed awareness and barriers to vaccination. Statistical analyses estimated the prevalence of prior C. burnetii exposure and examined associations with demographic, occupational and geographic factors using chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and unadjusted logistic regression (ORs, 95% CI).
RESULTS:
A total of 178 participants were included (median age 38 years; 55.1% male), of whom 52.2% were full time dairy farm workers. Evidence of prior C. burnetii exposure was identified in 22 participants (95% CI 7.9-18.1%), while 153 received vaccination. Prior exposure varied by age group (χ² p=0.0036), peaking among those aged 40–49 years (10/29, 34.5%). Key barriers to vaccination included time and work constraints, cost, limited local providers and low awareness of personal risk and vaccine effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides region-specific evidence of Q fever exposure among Gippsland agricultural workers. Seroprevalence suggests notification data underestimate true infection burden and may exceed previous Australian serosurvey estimates. Findings highlight the need for sustained, accessible and affordable vaccination pathways, supported by targeted prevention and education strategies in rural agricultural settings.
Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic disease transmitted mainly via contaminated aerosols from infected livestock. Gippsland, a rural dairy and agricultural region in Victoria, Australia, experiences a high burden of disease. Notification data likely underestimate true burden due to variable clinical presentation, limited clinician awareness and reduced healthcare engagement among at risk populations. Vaccination is effective but underutilised. A subsidised Q Fever testing and vaccination initiative established by GippsDairy and Gippsland Region Public Health Unit enabled assessment of prior exposure within a high-risk workforce.
METHODS:
Dairy and livestock workers were recruited via GippsDairy, with testing and vaccination delivered at four Gippsland primary care clinics. A retrospective serosurvey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) participating between January - October 2025 using de-identified serology and skin prick test results. Survey data assessed awareness and barriers to vaccination. Statistical analyses estimated the prevalence of prior C. burnetii exposure and examined associations with demographic, occupational and geographic factors using chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and unadjusted logistic regression (ORs, 95% CI).
RESULTS:
A total of 178 participants were included (median age 38 years; 55.1% male), of whom 52.2% were full time dairy farm workers. Evidence of prior C. burnetii exposure was identified in 22 participants (95% CI 7.9-18.1%), while 153 received vaccination. Prior exposure varied by age group (χ² p=0.0036), peaking among those aged 40–49 years (10/29, 34.5%). Key barriers to vaccination included time and work constraints, cost, limited local providers and low awareness of personal risk and vaccine effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides region-specific evidence of Q fever exposure among Gippsland agricultural workers. Seroprevalence suggests notification data underestimate true infection burden and may exceed previous Australian serosurvey estimates. Findings highlight the need for sustained, accessible and affordable vaccination pathways, supported by targeted prevention and education strategies in rural agricultural settings.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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