The current outbreak of the flu-like Q fever in Noord-Brabant is unique, experts from the health and the environment institute RIVM said on Wednesday, news agency ANP reports.

RIVM officials held round-table talks with experts from Canada, France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden about the disease, which is spread in goat, sheep and cattle urine and faeces.
The Dutch outbreak is concentrated in a small area, which is rare, experts said. So far this year, 497 people have been diagnosed with Q fever, most of whom are in Brabant. Until 2007, there were only a handful of cases a year in the country as a whole.
The RIVM is now to meet vets to see if new steps can be taken to prevent the spread of the disease, ANP said.
Q fever has flu-like symptoms and can be treated with antibiotics.