| Disease
Fact Sheet Series:
What is tularemia?
Tularemia, a disease that can affect both animals and humans, is caused by a bacteria,
Francisella tularemsis. Although many wild animals are infected, (hares, rabbits,
squirrels, muskrats, beavers, deer), occasionally certain domestic animals can be infected
(sheep and cats). The rabbit is the species most often involved in disease outbreaks. The
bacteria can also be found in ticks and deerflies. Tularemia in humans is relatively rare
in Wisconsin, averaging less than one case per year since 1980.
Who gets tularemia?
Hunters, trappers or other people who spend a great deal of time out-of-doors are at a
greater risk of exposure to tularemia than people with other occupational or recreational
interests.
How is tularemia spread?
Many routes of human exposure to the tularemia bacteria are known to exist. The common
routes include: inoculation of the skin or mucous membranes with blood or tissue while
handling, dressing or skinning infected animals; contact with fluids from infected flies
or ticks; the bite of infected ticks; or handling or eating insufficiently cooked rabbit
or hare meat. Rabbit meat can remain infective even after being frozen for several years.
Less common means of spread are: drinking contaminated water; inhaling dust from
contaminated soil; or handling contaminated pelts or paws of animals. Tularemia cannot be
spread from one person to another.
What are the symptoms of tularemia?
Tularemia is usually recognized by the presence of a skin lesion and swollen glands.
Ingestion of the organism may produce a throat infection, intestinal pain, diarrhea and
vomiting. Inhalation of the organism may produce a fever alone or combined with a
pneumonia-like illness.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms generally appear between 2 and 10 days after exposure, but usually after 3
days.
What is the treatment for tularemia?
Certain antibiotics such as streptomycin and gentamycin are effective in treating
tularemia. Tetracycline and chloramphenicol have also been reported to be effective.
Does past infection with tularemia make a person immune?
Patients who recover from tularemia will develop a degree of immunity, however,
reinfection has been reported.
What can be done to prevent the spread of tularemia?
Rubber gloves should be worn when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits.
Meat from wild game, especially rabbit and squirrel meat should be cooked thoroughly
before eating. Avoid bites of flies and ticks by the use of protective clothing, insect
repellents, and checking for ticks frequently. Avoid drinking untreated water. Instruct
children not to handle any sick or dead animals.
For more information, contact your
Local
Public Health Department
Back to Communicable Disease
Fact Sheet Series Index Page
PDF: The free Acrobat Reader®
software is needed to view and print portable document format (PDF) files.
Learn more
Last Revised: March 20, 2008
|
