Poor Bunnies! (Tularemia)

Tularemia

• Caused by a bacterium called Francisella Tularensis
• Once used for bioterrorism bomb tactics 
• Found in rabbits, other small animals, and blood sucking insects
• Transmitted from insect-to-animal, insect-to-human, animal-to-human, intake of contaminated food, water or directly from the bacteria
• Not transmitted from human-to-human
• Mistaken to be other diseases because of its similar symptoms
• Vaccine is not Available in the United States
• Documented to have occured in the North America, Europe, and Asia 

Symptom include:

Fever Rashes Enlarged Lymph Nodes Chills Weakness Swelling Bumps Ulcers Headaches Joint Pain Dry Cough Chest Pain Difficulty Breathing Similar illnesses: Meningitis Pneumonia Bone Infection Sac around Heart Infection Treatment: Streptomycin shot Gentamicin shot Teracycline oral treatment Chloramphenicol shot (not for children) Prevention: Use insect repellants with 20% or 30% of DEET When outdoors in forests or wooded areas, wear long pants, sleeved shirts, and socks Remove ticks with tweezers Don't drink untreated surface water Center for Disease Control and Prevention & World Health Organization:  Continuing to research on the epidemiology and natural ecology of Tularemia Developed improved diagnostic tests for Tularemia Created a bioterrorism preparedness plan to stockpile antibiotics