What is Tularemia?

Now is the season that many hunters maybe enjoying the outdoors by hunting upland birds or small game such as rabbits.  Around my house, I have numerous rabbits, some cottontail, but mostly black-eared jackrabbits.  I have asked some of the more seasoned hunters in the area, if jackrabbits were good to eat.  The reply was, “Not even coyotes will eat jackrabbits.”

From what I understand, most of the dislike for rabbits, and jackrabbits in particular, comes from the fear of “Rabbit Fever” or Tularemia.  Tularemia, known as rabbit fever, deerfly disease and meat cutters disease is the single most important and deadly disease affecting wild rabbits. 

The causal organism, a microscopic bacteria Pasteurella tularensis, is capable of infecting a number of wild birds and mammals (including man), but more commonly occurs in rodents and rabbits.  High rabbit populations are especially prone to tularemia infections and the disease can quickly decimate local rabbit populations. 

Infected rabbits die within a week or ten days following the onset of the illness.  Signs of the disease in rabbits include sluggishness, slow reactions and refusal to run.

In advanced stages, internal organs such as the lungs, liver and spleen may be covered with small white spots.  However, positive diagnosis of tularemia requires laboratory work by disease experts.

Tularemia can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated meat, contact with contaminated equipment or clothing or contact with contaminated water.  

Tularemia may also be spread by ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes.  The disease is highly infectious and virulent in humans.  In the United States, people exposed to wild animals (especially rabbits) and in tick-infested areas are most at risk.  In 2002, human cases of tularemia were linked to infected prairie dogs sold as pets. 

Tularemia is not known to be spread from person to person. People who have tularemia do not need to be isolated. People who have been exposed to the tularemia bacteria should be treated as soon as possible. The disease can be fatal if it is not treated with the right antibiotics.

At present, there are no vaccines to prevent the disease.  The signs and symptoms people develop depend on how they are exposed to tularemia.  Possible symptoms include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, diarrhea or pneumonia. 

If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness.  People with pneumonia can develop chest pain, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum and respiratory failure. Although, tularemia responds quickly to antibiotics, and is no longer being considered an important disease, it is important for anyone suffering with these symptoms to seek immediate medical assistance.

Although the seriousness of tularemia as a human malady has been reduced in recent years, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  You can take several steps as added protection against the disease.  Even without these added precautions, there are only about 10 cases of tularemia per 1 million people annually.

The following methods for protection against tularemia are recommended:

• Hunt rabbits after the coming of cool weather when there is a good chance that most sick rabbits have died.

• If a rabbit shows no natural wariness or alertness, and no strong inclination to run, do not bag him.  Sick rabbits are often sluggish and “tame”.

• Always wear rubber gloves when dressing rabbits, even in winter.  •Avoid getting rabbit blood on your hands in the field.

• After removing your rubber gloves, wash hands well with strong soap and hot water if available, and touch all cuts, scratches and abrasions on your hands with iodine.  This can be done in the field as well as at home.

• Cook rabbits thoroughly.  Never eat rare or underdone rabbit.

For more information go to the Center for Disease Control, Frequently Asked Questions about Tularemia - https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/index.html