What we want - The Q-Fever Vaccination to be subsidized.

Q-Fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii a bacteria that is found in sheep, cattle, goats and other livestock, native and domestic animals.  People commonly catch Q-Fever by breathing in infected dust. The effects of Q-fever are not limited to only workers but to their families as well. Just like the asbestos problem, the dust from infected clothing has been known to effect those who do the laundry and from children coming into contact with the dust.  Cases have been reported of women having contracted Q-Fever from doing the laundry of a family member who has worked with stock or from living in close proximity to areas where livestock are held - such as sale yards or abattoirs. 

Dry, arid and dusty Queensland -in the midst of one of the worst droughts in living memory. The perfect transmission environment for Q-Fever.  While the highest rates of diagnosed Q-Fever is in Queensland it is affecting people all over Australia.  

An education program for the public and for health professionals.

Q-Fever is often misdiagnosed due to the lack of education programs for both the public and for health professionals. People are getting ill - suffering from Chronic Fatigue - and have multiple organs adversely affected including heart values. Q-Fever is a life altering disease!

A study to capture symptoms and 'life' after Q-Fever. 

Despite the life altering consequences of this disease -the ramifications of this disease are not well known - by the public or health professionals and have not been studied or documented.  It is commonly misdiagnosed and there has been no long term studies in regard to post diagnosis symptoms of suffers.  Of the confirmed cases - it is unknown how many people are wrongly diagnosed with other illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue.

A vaccination to be developed for livestock

The current human vaccination can not be given to person under 15 year old.  We need a vaccination developed for livestock that can be given to stock that are around children that are too young to be given the Human Vaccination.  This would greatly help to manage the risk of Q-Fever in stock and humans.

What can be done?

Currently the Q-Fever vaccination is not subsided by the Government, leaving those most vulnerable to be out of pocket and at risk. People in remote, rural and even urban Australia are getting sick from a disease that has a Vaccination.

By signing this petition, we are asking that the Government subsides the Q-Fever vaccination, so those who are at risk have access to it, develop and implement a public education program aimed at making the public aware of all aspects of Q-Fever and implementing an education program for all health professionals and those studying to become health professionals.

The old saying is that prevention is better than a cure - we can prevent Q-Fever but there is no cure.

Belinda Marriage
0435126465
Queensland Senate Candidate
belindamarriage4qldsenate2016@gmail.com​

https://www.facebook.com/Belinda-Marriage-2016-Queensland-Senate-Candidate-1610513565874665/?ref=hl