Sheep and other livestock could be the source of Q-fever for bioterrorists as well as the target of terrorist attacks. Agents of Bioterror Q Fever incubation period | symptoms | how it would spread | treatment | vaccine 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. Incubation period before symptoms 2-3 weeks Symptoms high fever, chills, and throbbing headache profuse sweating visual and auditory hallucinations pneumonia hepatitis How it would be spread Aerosol or food. Human-to-human transmission is rare. 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. Anthrax   Botulism   Cholera   Glanders Plague   Q Fever   Smallpox   Tularemia Chart of the 8 agents Photo: Corbis Images Printer-Friendly Format   Feedback History of Biowarfare | Future Germ Defenses Interviews with Biowarriors | Global Guide to Bioweapons | Making Vaccines Resources | Teacher's Guide | Transcript | Site Map | Bioterror Home Search | Site Map | Previously Featured | Schedule | Feedback | Teachers | Shop Join Us/E-Mail | About NOVA | Editor's Picks | Watch NOVAs online | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated November 2001