Rabbit fever, commonly referred to as tularaemia, is an uncommon bacterial infection caused by
Francisella tularensis
. Although uncommon, incidents have lately increased in the United States, with a 56% increase from 2011 to 2022, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This zoonotic disease primarily affects animals such as rabbits, rats, and hares, but it can spread to people via a variety of routes. Here’s a closer look at rabbit fever, its symptoms, and how to protect yourself.
What causes rabbit fever?
Rabbit fever is caused by a bacterium called Francisella tularensis, which can spread through:
- Bites from infected ticks or deer flies.
- Direct contact with infected animals.
- Contaminated water or soil.
- Inhaling infected dust or aerosols, mostly during agricultural or landscaping activities.
Though it can affect anyone, those at higher risk include children aged 5–9, older adults, and people living in certain regions like Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, where cases are most common.
Symptoms of rabbit fever
The symptoms of tularemia can vary depending on how the bacteria enter the body. Below are the main forms of the disease and their signs:
- Ulceroglandular Tularemia: This is the most common type, marked by a skin ulcer at the infection site and swollen lymph nodes.
- Oculoglandular Tularemia: Caused by bacteria entering through the eyes, leading to eye irritation, redness, and swollen lymph nodes near the ears.
- Oropharyngeal Tularemia: Spread through contaminated food or water, it causes sore throat, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
- Pneumonic Tularemia: The most severe form, it can cause chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a persistent cough.
- General symptoms across all forms include high fever, fatigue, headaches, chills, and body aches.
How dangerous is rabbit fever?
While rabbit fever is serious, antibiotics are treatable if diagnosed early. The mortality rate is low—less than 2% in most cases—but can rise to 24% in untreated severe forms. Awareness of symptoms and early medical attention can significantly reduce risks.
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Prevention tips: How to protect yourself
Francisella tularensis exposure can be avoided by taking precautions. What you can do is as follows:
Use insect repellents that contain DEET to avoid getting bitten by insects.
In places where ticks are common, wear closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and pants.
Quickly remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.
Steer clear of contaminated dust and water: Avoid drinking untreated natural water.
To prevent dust inhalation, wear masks when gardening or mowing the lawn.
Take care when handling animals:
When working with game meat, rats, or rabbits, wear gloves.
Before eating, make sure all game meat is cooked through.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
