Rabbit Fever Surge In US: Tularemia, usually referred to as "rabbit fever," is a rare and contagious disease that has reportedly increased by more than 50% in the United States in recent years. In comparison to 2001–2010, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the average annual incidence of tularemia infections increased by 56% between 2011 and 2022.

According to data released on Monday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the health officials disclosed that over 2,400 instances were documented during the more recent period.

Both humans and animals may get tularemia, which is brought on by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. The disease is more common in rodents, rabbits, and hares. Humans can get tularemia from a variety of sources, including contact with infected animals including rabbits, rats, and hares, as well as tick and deer fly bites.

According to the CDC, the virus can also be contracted by laboratory exposure, inhaling polluted aerosols or dust from landscaping and agriculture, and drinking tainted water, as reported by the Times of India.

What Are The Symptoms?

Although tularemia might vary in severity, all forms of the condition share the common symptom of high-grade fever. Tularemia symptoms vary depending on how the virus was contracted. The CDC states that among the symptoms include sore throats, mouth ulcers, and skin ulcers.

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According to the health authority, other symptoms include eye discomfort and inflammation. This type, known as oculoglandular, is brought on by germs entering through the eye.

It can infect a person if it comes into touch with their eyes or while they are butchering an infected animal. The eye becomes irritated and inflamed, and the lymph nodes in front of the ear swell. Breathing difficulties, chest pain, and coughing are other symptoms.

Rabbit Fever Prevention Tips

  • To avoid getting bitten by insects or ticks, use insect repellents.
  • To ward off ticks and deer flies, dress in long sleeves and long pants.
  • Use fine-tipped tweezers to quickly remove any adhered ticks.
  • Do not drink surface water that has not been treated.
  • To lessen the chance of breathing in bacteria when doing tasks like mowing, use a mask.
  • When working with animals like prairie dogs, muskrats, rabbits, and other rodents, wear gloves.
  • Before consuming game meat, be sure it is cooked through.