What is Tularemia and How do People Get it?
Tularemia disease can be a mild, moderate, or severe illness affecting one part or many different parts of the body. It is caused by bacteria named Franciscella tularensis. Tularemia bacteria are found naturally in some small animals (rabbits, beavers, and squirrels) in the United States. Tularemia disease is uncommon in humans. In 2004-2005, there was one case of tularemia reported in San Francisco and 4 cases reported within the state of California. Other areas of the country have more naturally-occurring tularemia, especially Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Sometimes tularemia is called “rabbit fever”. People can touch, eat, or breathe in tularemia bacteria. This is called exposure to tularemia. Not everybody who is exposed to tularemia will get sick. But many will, and as the tularemia bacteria multiply inside the body, they can cause serious illness. Someone can get exposed to naturally-occurring tularemia by: • Touching the hair
