Q (or "query") fever generally affects sheep, cattle, and other farm animals.
The disease agent, the rickettsial bacterium Coxiella burnetti, builds
up in placental tissues, so veterinarians and farmers aiding animal births are
at risk. But natural human cases are rare.
In the 1960s, bioweapons developers in the U.S. considered Q fever an excellent
"incapacitating" agent. The disease is debilitating, but rarely lethal. The
U.S. military envisioned using Q fever to cripple enemy forces and drain them
of resources.
The Soviets, and possibly Iraq, have developed and tested Q fever. And the cult
Aum Shinrikyo obtained the microbe and toyed unsuccessfully with its use. Q
fever may appeal less to bioterrorists than to militaries, however, because it
is an inherently survivable disease.
Treatment
Even untreated, most people with Q fever will recover. Treatment with a variety
of antibiotics shortens illness and results in fewer complications.
Vaccine
A vaccine exists but is not available to the general public.
Sheep and other livestock could be the source of Q-fever for bioterrorists as well as the target of terrorist attacks.
