The Suffolk County Department of Health in New York has reported three probable cases of tularemia, a rare but serious infection caused by the F. tularensis bacteria. This disease can occur after a bite from a tick or a fly that has previously bitten a sick mammal, typically a rabbit.

What is Tularemia?

Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is a rare but serious infection that can cause a high fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, tiredness, and a large sore if caught through a tick or fly bite. These symptoms generally appear three to five days after exposure, but they can take up to 21 days to develop.

The infection is treatable with antibiotics like streptomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin. A vaccine had been available for lab workers who worked with the bacteria, but it is under review by the US Food and Drug Administration and is not generally available in the United States.

Prevention

Experts predict that with a mild winter in New York, this could be a difficult season for ticks. The state health department says that avoiding tick bites is the best way to avoid tularemia. If hunting or skinning animals, use gloves, and cook game meat thoroughly before eating.

When going outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, in addition to light-colored clothing with a tight weave that can help you spot and remove ticks right away. The health department also recommends not sitting directly on the ground, on fallen logs, or on stone walls. Stay in the middle of cleared, well-traveled trails, and avoid dense woods and bushy areas.

If you do have to spend time in areas with ticks, consider using a tick repellent, but be sure to wash it off when you go back in. After spending time outdoors, it’s also essential to do a full-body check at the end of the day. If you find a tick, use a pair of pointed tweezers to grasp it by the head or mouth where it enters the skin, and pull firmly and steadily upward.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.