What is it

Tularemia is a bacterial disease that is associated by both animals and humans. Also known as "Rabbit Fever" and "Deer's Fly Fever," Tularemia in animals is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. It is spread to humans via ticks and infected animal tissue and in some cases from contaminated food and water. Tularemia is not spread from person to person. The bacteria are highly infectious: a small number of bacteria (10-50 organisms) can cause the disease.

If F. tularensis were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne for exposure by inhalation. Persons who inhale an infectious aerosol would generally experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection, if they were not treated. The bacteria that cause tularemia occur widely in nature and could be isolated and grown in quantity in a laboratory, although manufacturing an effective aerosol weapon would require considerable sophistication.

Syntoms

The incubation period for tularemia is typically three to five days, with symptoms occurring from one to 14 days. Depending on the route of exposure, the tularemia bacteria may cause skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, oral ulcers, or pneumonia. If the bacteria were inhaled, symptoms would include the abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness. Persons with pneumonia can develop chest pain, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum, and respiratory failure.

Testing

To determine whether Tularemia is present, blood or sputum may be tested or a chest X-ray may be taken.

Recovery Potential

If untreated, Tularemia is fatal in about 5 percent to 15 percent of all cases. Forty percent or more of the people with the lung and systemic forms of the disease may die if they are not treated with appropriate antibiotics.

Prevention/Treatment

Tularemia is often treated with antibiotics. To prevent Tularemia, several precautions should be taken. Wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in wooded areas to avoid being bitten by ticks and be sure to keep the lawn around homes mowed and weeds cut. In the past, a vaccine for tularemia was available, but it is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration.

Environmental Cleanup

The bacteria are capable of surviving for weeks at low temperatures in water, moist soil, hay, straw or decaying animal carcasses. In circumstances of a laboratory spill or intentional use in which authorities are concerned about an environmental risk, decontamination can be achieved by spraying the suspected contaminant with a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part household bleach and 9 parts water). After 10 minutes, a 70 percent solution of alcohol can be used to further clean the area and reduce the corrosive action of the bleach. Soap water can be used to flush away less hazardous contamination. Persons with direct exposure to powder or liquid aerosols containing the bacteria should wash body surfaces and clothing with soap water. Standard levels of chlorine in municipal water sources should protect against waterborne infection. Following an urban release, the risk to humans of acquiring tularemia from infected animals or arthropod bites is considered minimal and could be reduced by educating the public on simple avoidance of sick or dead animals and on personal protective measures against biting arthropods.