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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Tularemia is a rare infectious disease that can attack the skin, eyes and lungs. Often called rabbit fever or deerfly fever, tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. The disease mainly affects mammals, especially rodents, rabbits and hares, although it can also infect birds, reptiles and fish.

Tularemia spreads to humans through several routes, including insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal. Highly contagious and potentially fatal if not treated, tularemia usually can be treated effectively with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

References
  1. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about tularemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/faq.asp. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
  2. Nigrovic LE, et al. Tularemia. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;22:489.
  3. Everett. ED. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of tularemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
  4. Everett ED. Microbiology, pathogenesis, and epidemiology of tularemia, http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
  5. Eisen RJ, et al. Ecoepidemiology of tularemia in the Southcentral United States. American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. 2008;78:586.
  6. Tularemia: Surveillance reported cases by state. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/Surveillance/Tul_CasesbyState.html. Accessed March 2, 2010.
DS00714 April 20, 2010

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