Tularemia is a potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It infects both animals and people. Rabbits, hares and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks.
How people catch it
People can become infected in several ways:
| Route | |
|---|---|
| Bites | from ticks and deer flies |
| Skin contact | with infected animals |
| Water | drinking contaminated water |
| Air | breathing contaminated aerosols, or farm and landscaping dust |
| Work | occupational exposure |
People could also be exposed through bioterrorism.
In the United States, naturally occurring infections have been reported in every state except Hawaii.
Illness and treatment
Symptoms depend on how someone was infected. Tularemia can be life-threatening, but most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
Prevention
To lower your risk:
- use insect repellent;
- wear gloves when handling sick or dead animals;
- don't mow over dead animals.
Sources
Based on "About Tularemia," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; published May 15, 2024, updated August 27, 2026); a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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