Ishita Roy

Rabbit Fever In US, What Is It All About?

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), case numbers of infectious disease <span>tularemia</span>, or '<span>rabbit fever</span>' have surged in the United States over the past decade. The disease is on rise.

As per a 2014 study in the Balkan Medical Journal, Tularemia was first described as a disease of the rodent group called lemmings in the 16th century in Norway. It was also later described in Japan and Russia in the 1800s. The infectious agent was found from dead ground squirrels in 1911 in Tulare, California. This is where it derives its name from. Due to the region of its discovery, it was known as the Bacterium tularense. 

The first human cases were reported by Lamb and Wherry in 1914. Edward Francis was the first one to study the epidemiology of the disease in humans. He said that many people with different "clinical presentations" suffered from the same disease. It was found to be transmitted through contact with the infected meat of rabbits and rodents. "Serological tests were devised for the diagnosis, and a vector role of blood-sucking flies was established," reads the study. 

Humans can contact this disease through bites from infected ticks and deer flies, and direct skin contact with infected animals such as rabbits, hares, and rodents. There are other methods of transmission, including mowing over nests of infected animals which can aerosolize the bacteria and infect the person operating the mower. This mode of transmission was first observed in 2000 at a Massachusetts vineyard, where the Tularemia outbreak persisted for 6 months. This resulted in 15 confirmed cases and one death. In fact, one of the several cases reported in Colorado during 2014-25 was also linked with lawn mowing. 

As per the CDC, the bacteria is not only classified Tier 1 Select Agent, but it can have the potential to use in bioterrorism. This is when transmitted, without proper treatment, it can be lethal. The CDC report notes: "The case fatality rate of tularemia is typically below 2%, though it can be higher depending on the clinical presentation and bacterial strain."

<h4>What are the types of Tularemia?</h4>

The F. tularensis (where the F stands for Francis, from Edward Francis, who was the first one to study the epidemiology of the disease in humans), gets into your body and are "eaten" by cells of your immune system. These cells then would usually destroy the bacteria, but instead, the bacteria multiply inside the body. The bacteria destroy the immune cell and infect other cells too. 

<h4>There are 6 types of Tularemia that can affect your body:</h4>

<strong>Ulceroglandular Tularemia:</strong> This is the most common one that you can get from being bitten by tick or infected animal. This affects your skin and lymph node. 

<strong>Glandular tularemia:</strong> Similar to ulceroglandular tularemia, but it only affects your lymph nodes. You get glandular tularemia from a tick bite or directly from an infected animal.

<strong>Oculoglandular tularemia: </strong>This happens if you get contaminated water or body fluids in your eyes.

<strong>Oropharyngeal tularemia:</strong> This happens through contaminated food and can cause a sore throat or digestive symptoms. 

<strong>Pneumonic tularemia:</strong> This can be caused by F tularensis spreading in your lungs from somewhere else in your body, causing you symptoms similar to pneumonia. 

<strong>Typhodial tularemia:</strong> This causes a high fever and affects many parts of your body. You can get typhoidal tularemia the same way as other forms of tularemia.

While symptoms differ on the basis of gravity and the kind of tularemia, here are some common symptoms:

<ul><li>High Fever</li><li>Open would or ulcer on your skin</li><li>Large, painful, lymph nodes</li><li>Watery eyes</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Cough</li><li>Muscle aches</li><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Vomiting or diarrhea</li></ul>

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As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), case numbers of infectious disease tularemia, or 'rabbit fever' have surged in the United States over the past decade. The disease is on rise.The Name and originAs per a 2014 study in the Balkan Medical Journal, Tularemia was first described as a disease of the rodent group called lemmings in the 16th century in Norway. It was also later described in Japan and Russia in the 1800s. The infectious agent was found from dead ground squirrels in 1911 in Tulare, California. This is where it derives its name from. Due to the region of its discovery, it was known as the Bacterium tularense. The first human cases were reported by Lamb and Wherry in 1914. Edward Francis was the first one to study the epidemiology of the disease in humans. He said that many people with different "clinical presentations" suffered from the same disease. It was found to be transmitted through contact with the infected meat of rabbits and rodents. "Serological tests were devised for the diagnosis, and a vector role of blood-sucking flies was established," reads the study. How can humans get infected?Humans can contact this disease through bites from infected ticks and deer flies, and direct skin contact with infected animals such as rabbits, hares, and rodents. There are other methods of transmission, including mowing over nests of infected animals which can aerosolize the bacteria and infect the person operating the mower. This mode of transmission was first observed in 2000 at a Massachusetts vineyard, where the Tularemia outbreak persisted for 6 months. This resulted in 15 confirmed cases and one death. In fact, one of the several cases reported in Colorado during 2014-25 was also linked with lawn mowing. As per the CDC, the bacteria is not only classified Tier 1 Select Agent, but it can have the potential to use in bioterrorism. This is when transmitted, without proper treatment, it can be lethal. The CDC report notes: "The case fatality rate of tularemia is typically below 2%, though it can be higher depending on the clinical presentation and bacterial strain."What are the types of Tularemia?The F. tularensis (where the F stands for Francis, from Edward Francis, who was the first one to study the epidemiology of the disease in humans), gets into your body and are "eaten" by cells of your immune system. These cells then would usually destroy the bacteria, but instead, the bacteria multiply inside the body. The bacteria destroy the immune cell and infect other cells too. There are 6 types of Tularemia that can affect your body:Ulceroglandular Tularemia: This is the most common one that you can get from being bitten by tick or infected animal. This affects your skin and lymph node. Glandular tularemia: Similar to ulceroglandular tularemia, but it only affects your lymph nodes. You get glandular tularemia from a tick bite or directly from an infected animal.Oculoglandular tularemia: This happens if you get contaminated water or body fluids in your eyes.Oropharyngeal tularemia: This happens through contaminated food and can cause a sore throat or digestive symptoms. Pneumonic tularemia: This can be caused by F tularensis spreading in your lungs from somewhere else in your body, causing you symptoms similar to pneumonia. Typhodial tularemia: This causes a high fever and affects many parts of your body. You can get typhoidal tularemia the same way as other forms of tularemia.SymptomsWhile symptoms differ on the basis of gravity and the kind of tularemia, here are some common symptoms:High FeverOpen would or ulcer on your skinLarge, painful, lymph nodesWatery eyesSore throatCoughMuscle achesLoss of appetiteVomiting or diarrhea