Four cases of tularemia, a potentially serious bacterial infection known as 'rabbit fever,' have been identified in Suffolk County, Long Island, the New York State Department of Health confirmed this month. Nationally, 64 infections have been reported this year.
Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis and can be transmitted through various means, including tick and deer fly bites, contact with infected animals, inhalation of contaminated dust, or ingestion of contaminated water. Symptoms typically include sudden flu-like illness with high fever, chills, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and sores near the site of bacterial entry.
In severe cases, the infection can lead to pneumonia and breathing difficulties, and if treatment is delayed, it can have fatal complications. Health officials have cautioned that individuals engaged in landscaping or lawn mowing could become infected if their equipment disturbs contaminated animal remains, aerosolizing the bacteria. Residents are advised to check yards for animal carcasses or wildlife nests before mowing and to consider wearing a mask during such activities.
Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, noted that tularemia can be challenging to diagnose due to its varied presentation depending on the mode of transmission. "It's a really tricky disease because it has so many different forms, and it's rare, so it's not at the top of our mind often when patients do come in," Handel stated.
Common carriers of the bacteria include rabbits and rodents, but infected ticks can also transmit the illness. Transmission between humans is very uncommon. The infection can manifest differently depending on exposure: touching an infected animal may lead to eye infections, while swallowing the bacteria can cause intestinal issues. The bacteria can then spread to other parts of the body.
One reported case involved a nine-year-old boy who battled a severe form of tularemia after an infected tick bite, experiencing significant pain and fever for weeks before recovering with antibiotics. Another confirmed case is a woman from Riverhead. Tularemia cases are most common in spring, summer, and fall when ticks and animals are more active and outdoor activities increase.
While the current number of cases in Suffolk County is within the typical annual range of three to six, health officials remain vigilant. A notable outbreak occurred around Cape Cod in 2000, where several individuals contracted tularemia after lawnmowers agitated deceased rabbits, dispersing contaminated particles into the air and leading to severe lung infections.
Despite these transmission routes, experts emphasize that tularemia is rare. Handel advised that tick bites are a likely common route of infection on Long Island, urging residents to use insect repellent, avoid tall grass and leaf litter, treat clothing with permethrin, and seek medical attention if fever or other symptoms arise after a tick bite. He stressed that the public should not experience excessive alarm regarding the disease, describing it as one of the rarer tick-borne infections.
