The recent epidemic of the sheep and goat disease Q fever cost the Netherlands between €161m and €336m, according to a report drawn up for Noord Brabant province.

Q fever was a serious problem on Dutch goat farms between 2007 and last year. Most were located in the province.
Over 40,000 goats were killed in an effort to eradicate the disease. Q fever also killed at least 19 people and a further 4,000 became ill.
The biggest cost was that of healthcare and sick pay for people who developed the disease, the report says.