TULAREMIA
Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Tularemia occurs naturally in small mammals like mice, squirrels and rabbits. Humans can become infected with tularemia through insect bites, by ingesting contaminated food or water, handling infected animals or breathing in the bacteria F. tularensis.
Person to person transmission of tularemia has not yet been documented. However, officials are concerned that F tularensis could be aerosolized and used as a bioterror weapon.
Symptoms appear 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria and include fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, lethargy, and progressive weakness. Pneumonia can also follow infection.
People exposed to aerosolized F. tularensis would suffer severe respiratory infections.
Tularemia can be fatal if untreated.
Antibiotics administered within 24 hours after exposure may prevent the disease entirely. Failing that, antibiotic therapy should begin as soon as possible after symptoms appear.
A vaccine is currently being reviewed by the FDA, but is not yet available.
Because tularemia is not contagious, isolation is not required. However, standard precautions should be used.
