Residents of drought-stricken parts of southern Queensland are being warned of the increasing number of people affected by Q fever, a nasty bacterial infection spread from animals.
University of New England Institute of Healthcare Research director Frances Quirk says prolonged drought conditions have seen the disease pop up in new areas.
“The change in the environment that we’re experiencing now is increasing the scope of people who are impacted, so people who are greenskeepers, gardeners, people who work with wildlife, dog and cat breeders,” Professor Quirk said.