Tularemia Alert: Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment Confirms First Human Case of Rare Rabbit Fever in the County

The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment officials confirmed that a child in Pueblo County had been infected with a rare infectious disease called tularemia or rabbit fever. Fox 21 Local News reported that this is the first human case of tularemia in the county this year.

Alicia Solis, the program manager of the health agency, reminds the Pueblo residents to be cautious of the infectious disease that may be present in some animals, particularly rabbits, rodents, and hares.

Tularemia in Pueblo County

Tularemia or also known as rabbit fever, typically attacks the skin, eyes, lymph nodes, and lungs. According to Mayo Clinic, tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It mainly affects animals and could spread to humans in several ways, like insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal.

Although human tularemia cases are rare, some activities may increase the risk of developing the disease. These activities include inhaling or drinking contaminated soil or water, direct skin contact, and being bitten by ticks or deer flies.

It is possible to inhale the bacteria through the soil when they mow, blow the leaves, or till the soil. More so, hunters who skin animals they hunted without gloves are exposed to the infection through an open wound.

Solis also emphasized that prevention against the infection should always be taken when mowing weeds or grass or when the soil is disturbed since tularemia is already detected in Pueblo County.

Symptoms of tularemia infection include headache, chills, fever, chest pain, muscle aches, and coughing. Anyone infected is encouraged to seek medical help to be treated with antibiotics. Dogs and cats who also got infected from eating infected rabbits or being bitten by ticks and deer flies can also be treated when diagnosed early.

Recommended Precautions Against Tularemia

In a Yahoo! News article, health officials from Pueblo County recommend the following precautions to take to prevent catching the tularemia infection:

• Do not go near wild animals, especially outdoors, and wear insect repellant with DEET.
• Do not mow in animal carcasses and always wear a dust mask when mowing or doing yard work.
• Wear gloves when gardening or landscaping and do not forget to wash your hands after.
• Avoid contaminated water and do not allow pets to drink surface waters that might be contaminated.
• Keep your pets away from dead animals or carcasses by putting them on a leash outdoors.
• Use anti-tick and flea products on your pets.
• Avoid direct contact with an animal carcass. But if it must be moved, wear insect repellant to protect oneself from fleas, and ticks or use a long-handled shovel to scoop the dead animal.
• Place the dead animal's body in a garbage bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash receptacle. Do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water after handling the carcass.

Check out more news and information on Rabbits in Science Times.