Tularemia: What You Need to Know About "Rabbit Fever"
Tularemia is a rare but serious bacterial disease that spreads through insect bites, animal contact, contaminated water, or inhaled particles, and is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.
Tularemia—also known as “Rabbit Fever” or “Deer Fly Fever”—might sound like something out of a wildlife documentary, but it's a real disease that can affect both animals and people. While it’s not very common, it’s worth knowing about, especially if you spend time outdoors, work with animals, or live in an area where it shows up from time to time.
What is Tularemia?
Tularemia is caused by a tiny but dangerous bacterium called Francisella tularensis. It can infect animals and humans and is most often found in rabbits, hares, rodents, and the insects that feed on them (like ticks and deer flies).
Although rare, tularemia can be serious—but it’s also treatable with antibiotics if caught early.
How Do People Get It?
There are a bunch of different ways people can catch tularemia, including:
Bites from infected ticks or deer flies
Touching sick or dead animals, especially wild ones like rabbits, prairie dogs, and rodents
Drinking water that's been contaminated
Breathing in dust during mowing or landscaping in areas where the bacteria is present
Lab exposure (for scientists and lab techs)
Bioterrorism (yes, the bacteria is so potent it’s considered a potential weapon)
Luckily, tularemia does not spread from person to person. You can’t catch it from someone who’s sick.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms usually start suddenly—anywhere from 1 to 10 days after exposure. They can include:
High fever (up to 104°F or 40°C)
Chills and sweating
Headache
Weakness or extreme tiredness
Nausea or vomiting
Depending on how the infection entered your body, you might also get:
Skin ulcers
Swollen lymph nodes
Eye irritation
Sore throat
Pneumonia-like symptoms (from inhaling the bacteria)
How is Tularemia Diagnosed?
Doctors usually suspect tularemia based on your symptoms and any recent activities—like hiking, hunting, or handling wildlife. Lab tests (like blood work or PCR tests) can confirm the diagnosis. Since it’s a dangerous bacterium, labs need special precautions when handling it.
Can It Be Treated?
Yes! Tularemia is treatable with antibiotics. The most commonly used ones are:
Streptomycin or Gentamicin (for more severe cases)
Doxycycline or Ciprofloxacin (for milder cases or as a backup)
Most people recover fully if they get treatment early. Without treatment, it can be life-threatening, especially in more severe forms of the disease.
How Can You Prevent It?
Good news: there are several easy ways to protect yourself.
When Outdoors:
Use insect repellent (look for ones with DEET or picaridin).
Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks to keep ticks out.
Check your body and clothes for ticks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas.
Never drink untreated water from lakes, rivers, or streams.
When Mowing or Landscaping:
Don’t mow over dead animals—check your yard or field first.
Consider wearing a mask when mowing or using a leaf blower in rural areas.
If You Hunt or Handle Animals:
Always wear gloves when handling wild animals, especially rabbits or rodents.
Cook wild game meat thoroughly before eating.
What About a Vaccine?
There was a vaccine for people who work in labs and are regularly exposed to tularemia, but it's currently under review by the FDA and not widely available.
Final Thoughts
Tularemia is rare, but it’s good to be aware—especially if you’re an outdoorsy person or work with animals. With a little prevention and quick treatment if needed, tularemia doesn’t have to be a big threat.
Stay safe, check for ticks, and maybe skip mowing over mystery lumps in the yard!
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