Rare Tick-Borne Disease 'Rabbit Fever' Diagnosed in Florida Amid National Surge

A 36-year-old Florida man has been diagnosed with tularemia, a rare and potentially dangerous tick-borne disease commonly known as 'rabbit fever.' The case, documented by doctors at the Mayo Clinic's Florida center in the American Journal of Case Reports, underscores growing concerns about the resurgence of insect-borne illnesses in the U.S.

Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is often found in rabbits and rodents. Humans can contract the disease through tick and deer fly bites, handling infected animals, consuming contaminated food or water, or inhaling contaminated dust. While typically prevalent in the South-Central U.S., including states like Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, recent cases in New York and now Florida suggest a possible spread.

The Florida patient experienced a prolonged and severe illness, initially presenting with fevers, night sweats, shivering, and tiredness for six months. He later developed extreme fatigue, intermittent nosebleeds, and blood in his urine, leading him to seek medical attention multiple times over eight months. Doctors were initially unable to identify the cause, but after the man mentioned hunting deer and wild turkeys and consuming their meat, tests for tick-borne and foodborne illnesses were ordered.

The diagnosis of tularemia was confirmed, and the man was treated with the antibiotic levofloxacin. His fevers subsided within a week, and while fatigue persisted, he eventually returned to his regular activities. Doctors noted that his symptoms should gradually improve over time.

Nationwide, approximately 200 cases of tularemia are reported annually. However, statistics from 2023 show a significant increase, with 196 reported cases, marking a 56 percent rise over the previous decade. This uptick is partially attributed to changing climate patterns, including warmer weather and longer summers, which allow ticks and other insect vectors to expand their range into new areas. Other tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, are also reportedly spreading.

Tularemia is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. Common symptoms, which typically appear three to five days after exposure, include high fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, joint stiffness, and a skin sore at the bite site, along with swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, tularemia can be fatal in about 10 percent of cases, often due to complications like pneumonia. However, with prompt antibiotic treatment, the fatality rate drops to less than one percent, though recovery can still take weeks or months.