Dutch minister apologises to Q fever patients

According to the ANP report published by Nieuws.nl, Dutch health minister Sophie Hermans apologised on behalf of the cabinet to Q fever patients at a symposium in Den Bosch. [1]

Sophie Hermans said she was apologising to people who had repeatedly had to tell their stories and that the government, which should have been there to offer support, had not been there. She added, in a translation from Dutch: “For that, I apologise from the bottom of my heart.” [1]

ANP reports that the Netherlands experienced a major Q fever outbreak from 2007 to 2010, linked to sick goats on farms mainly in North Brabant and Limburg. According to the ANP report, tens of thousands of people were infected and more than 100 died. [1]