Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Tularemia
Q. What is tularemia?
A. Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease
caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is typically
found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Tularemia is usually
a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S. states except Hawaii.
Q. How
do people become infected with tularemia?
A.
Typically, people become infected through the bite of infected insects (most
commonly, ticks and deerflies), by handling infected sick or dead animals,
by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by inhaling airborne
bacteria.
Q. Does tularemia
occur naturally in the United States?
A. Yes. Tularemia is a widespread disease in animals. About 200 human
cases of tularemia are reported each year in the United States. Most cases
occur in the south-central and western states. Nearly all cases occur in
rural areas, and are caused by the bites of ticks and biting flies or from
handling infected rodents, rabbits, or hares. Cases also resulted from inhaling
airborne bacteria and from laboratory accidents.
Q. What are
the signs and symptoms of tularemia?
A. 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. Tularemia can be fatal if the person is
not treated with appropriate antibiotics.
Q. Why are we
concerned about tularemia being used as a bioweapon?
A. Francisella tularensis is highly infectious. A small number
of bacteria (10-50 organisms) can cause disease. If Francisella tularensis
were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne so
they could be inhaled. People who inhale the bacteria can experience severe
respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection,
if they are not treated.
Q. Can someone
become infected with the tularemia bacteria from another person?
A. People have not been known to transmit the infection to others, so
infected persons do not need to be isolated.
Q. How quickly
would someone become sick if he or she were exposed to tularemia bacteria?
A. The incubation period (the time from being exposed to becoming ill)
for tularemia is typically 3 to 5 days, but can range from 1 to 14 days.
Q. What should
someone do if he or she suspects exposure to tularemia bacteria?
A. If you suspect you were exposed to tularemia bacteria, see a doctor
quickly. Treatment with antibiotics for a period of 10-14 days or more after
exposure may be recommended. If you are given antibiotics, it is important
to take them according to the instructions you receive. All of the medication
you are given must be taken.
Local and state health departments should be notified immediately so an investigation and infection control activities can begin.
Q. How is tularemia
diagnosed?
A. When a person has symptoms that appear related to tularemia, the
healthcare worker collects specimens, such as blood or sputum, for testing
in a diagnostic or reference laboratory. Laboratory test results for tularemia
may be presumptive or confirmatory. Presumptive (preliminary) identification
may take less than 2 hours, but confirmatory testing will take more time,
often 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the methods that need to be
used.
Depending on the circumstances, a person may be given treatment based on symptoms before the laboratory results are returned.
Q. Can tularemia
be effectively treated with antibiotics?
A. Yes. Early antibiotic treatment is recommended whenever it is likely
a person was exposed to tularemia or has been diagnosed as being infected
with tularemia. Several types of antibiotics have been effective in treating
tularemia infections. The tetracycline class (such as doxycycline) or fluoroquinolone
class (such as ciprofloxacin) of antibiotics are taken orally. Streptomycin
or gentamicin are also effective against tularemia, and are given by injection
into a muscle or vein. Health officials will test the bacteria in the early
stages of the response to determine which antibiotics will be most effective.
Q. How long
can Francisella tularensis exist in the environment?
A. Francisella tularensis can remain alive for weeks in water
and soil.
Q. Is there
a vaccine available for tularemia?
A. A vaccine for tularemia was used in the past to protect laboratory
workers, but it is not currently available.
- Page last updated October 8, 2003
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