Attack:
* Bacteria enters the body: The bacteria can enter the body through several ways:
* Skin contact: Handling infected animals (rabbits, hares, squirrels, etc.), their carcasses, or their ticks.
* Inhalation: Breathing in contaminated dust or aerosols (e.g., during skinning, cleaning, or butchering infected animals).
* Ingestion: Eating undercooked, contaminated meat.
* Bite or scratch: Being bitten or scratched by an infected animal.
* Tick bites: Being bitten by infected ticks, mainly the deer fly tick and the lone star tick.
* Immune system response: Once in the body, the bacteria travels to the lymph nodes, triggering an immune response.
* Symptoms: These can appear anywhere from 1 to 14 days after exposure and vary depending on how the bacteria entered the body. Symptoms include:
* Ulceroglandular tularemia: Painful, swollen lymph nodes, a skin ulcer at the site of infection.
* Oculoglandular tularemia: Swollen lymph nodes, eye inflammation, and vision problems.
* Pneumonic tularemia: Fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath.
* Typhoidal tularemia: Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches.
Spread:
* Direct contact: Handling infected animals or their carcasses.
* Indirect contact: Contacting contaminated surfaces or objects.
* Tick bites: Ticks infected with the bacteria can transmit it to humans.
* Aerosols: Inhalation of contaminated dust or aerosols.
Important Notes:
* Tularemia is NOT spread person-to-person.
* Rabbits are not the only carriers: Other wild animals like squirrels, hares, rodents, and even some domesticated animals can be infected.
* Treatment is available: Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial.
Prevention:
* Wear gloves when handling wild animals or their carcasses.
* Avoid contact with potentially infected animals.
* Use insect repellent to prevent tick bites.
* Cook meat thoroughly before consumption.
* Wash your hands after contact with any animals or wildlife.
If you suspect you may have been exposed to rabbit fever, consult a doctor immediately. Early treatment is crucial for a successful recovery.