Facts About Tularemia

What tularemia is

• Tularemia is a bacterial infection usually found in small mammals such as mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits and hares.
• Occasionally, water may also be contaminated.
• People are more likely to be exposed in rural settings, although urban and suburban exposures occasionally occur.

How tularemia is spread

• Humans become infected through environmental exposures and can develop severe, sometimes fatal illness.
• Infection typically occurs from bites by infected insects and ticks.
• Infection can also occur from the handling of infectious animal tissues or fluids.
• Direct contact with or ingestion of contaminated water, food or soil.
• Inhalation of infective aerosols.
• Tularemia is NOT spread from person to person.

The symptoms of tularemia are

• Onset of tularemia is usually sudden, with fever, headache, chills, generalized body aches (often in lower back), runny nose, and sore throat.
• Sweats, fever and chills, progressive weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss characterize the continuing illness.
• If untreated, symptoms often persist for several weeks or months usually with progressive debility.

How tularemia is diagnosed

• A physician’s complete and thorough physical examination and laboratory testing are necessary to confirm whether or not you have tularemia.
• Once diagnosed, tularemia can be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
• Treatment typically lasts at least 14 days to prevent relapse.
• As tularemia is not transmitted person to person, there is not a need for isolation.

Complications from tularemia

• In untreated tularemia, symptoms often persist for several weeks and sometimes, for months, usually with progressive debility.
• Blood infection and, rarely, meningitis may complicate any form of tularemia.

How to prevent tularemia

• Educate yourself on the proper handling of sick or dead animals, particularly when hunting, camping, or butchering; and avoid handling them if at all possible.
• Take personal protective measures against biting insects while engaging in outdoor activities.
• Currently, there is no vaccine available.