Tularemia
\n is an infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium, Francisella tularensis<\/i>,
\n found in <\/i> animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares).<\/p>\n
People
\n can get tularemia many different ways, such as through the bite of an
\n infected insect or other arthropod (usually a tick or deerfly), handling
\n infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water,
\n or breathing in F. tularensis<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Symptoms
\n of tularemia could include sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches,
\n joint pain, dry cough, progressive weakness, and pneumonia. Persons with
\n pneumonia can develop chest pain and bloody spit and can have trouble
\n breathing or can sometimes stop breathing. Other symptoms of tularemia
\n depend on how a person was exposed to the tularemia bacteria. These symptoms
\n can include ulcers on the skin or mouth, swollen and painful lymph glands,
\n swollen and painful eyes, and a sore throat. Symptoms usually appear 3
\n to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but can take as long as 14 days.<\/p>\n
Tularemia
\n is not known to be spread from person to person, so people who have tularemia
\n do not need to be isolated. People who have been exposed to F. tularensis<\/i>
\n should be treated as soon as possible. The disease can be fatal if it
\n is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics.<\/p>\n
A
\n vaccine for tularemia is under review by the Food and Drug Administration
\n and is not currently available in the United States.<\/p>\n
How Soon Do Symptoms usually appear Consult your doctor How Is Tularemia Your doctor will most A vaccine for tularemia What Can I Tularemia occurs naturally Note any change in Can Tularemia Francisella tularensis More Questions Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q<\/strong>. Q.<\/strong> A<\/strong>. If you suspect you were exposed to tularemia bacteria, Local and state health Q<\/strong>. Depending on the circumstances, Q.<\/strong> Q.<\/strong> Q<\/strong>. Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium, Francisella tularensis, found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares). People can get tularemia many different ways, such as through the bite of an infected insect or other arthropod (usually a tick or deerfly), handling infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/891"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/891\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalterroralert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n Infected People Get Sick?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but can take as long as 14
\n days.
\n What Should I Do if I Think I Have Tularemia?<\/p>\n
\n at the first sign of illness. Be sure to let the doctor know if you are
\n pregnant or have a weakened immune system.<\/p>\n
\n Treated?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n likely prescribe antibiotics, which must be taken according to the directions
\n supplied with your prescription to ensure the best possible result. Let
\n your doctor know if you have any allergy to antibiotics.<\/p>\n
\n is under review by the Food and Drug Administration and is not currently
\n available in the United States.<\/p>\n
\n Do To Prevent Becoming Infected with Tularemia?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n in many parts of the United States. Use insect repellent containing DEET
\n on your skin, or treat clothing with repellent containing permethrin,
\n to prevent insect bites. Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water,
\n especially after handling animal carcasses. Be sure to cook your food
\n thoroughly and that your water is from a safe source.<\/p>\n
\n the behavior of your pets (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares) or
\n livestock, and consult a veterinarian if they develop unusual symptoms.<\/p>\n
\n Be Used As a Weapon?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n is very infectious. A small number (10-50 or so organisms) can cause disease.
\n If F. tularensis were used as a weapon, the bacteria would likely be made
\n airborne for exposure by inhalation. People who inhale an infectious aerosol
\n would generally experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening
\n pneumonia and systemic infection, if they are not treated. The bacteria
\n that cause tularemia occur widely in nature and could be isolated and
\n grown in quantity in a laboratory, although manufacturing an effective
\n aerosol weapn would require considerable sophistication.<\/p>\n
\n & Answers<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n What is tularemia?
\n A.<\/strong> Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,”
\n is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia
\n is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares.
\n Tularemia is usually a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S.
\n states except Hawaii.<\/p>\n
\n How do people become infected with tularemia?
\n A.<\/strong> Typically, people become infected through the bite
\n of infected insects (most commonly, ticks and deerflies), by handling
\n infected sick or dead animals, by eating or drinking contaminated food
\n or water, or by inhaling airborne bacteria.<\/p>\n
\n Does tularemia occur naturally in the United States?
\n A<\/strong>. Yes. Tularemia is a widespread disease in animals.
\n About 200 human cases of tularemia are reported each year in the United
\n States. Most cases occur in the south-central and western states. Nearly
\n all cases occur in rural areas, and are caused by the bites of ticks and
\n biting flies or from handling infected rodents, rabbits, or hares. Cases
\n also resulted from inhaling airborne bacteria and from laboratory accidents.<\/p>\n
\n What are the signs and symptoms of tularemia?
\n A.<\/strong> The signs and symptoms people develop depend on how
\n they are exposed to tularemia. Possible symptoms include skin ulcers,
\n swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores,
\n diarrhea or pneumonia. If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include
\n abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry
\n cough, and progressive weakness. People with pneumonia can develop chest
\n pain, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum, and respiratory failure. Tularemia
\n can be fatal if the person is not treated with appropriate antibiotics.<\/p>\n
\n Why are we concerned about tularemia being used as a bioweapon?
\n A<\/strong>. Francisella tularensis is highly infectious. A small
\n number of bacteria (10-50 organisms) can cause disease. If Francisella
\n tularensis were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made
\n airborne so they could be inhaled. People who inhale the bacteria can
\n experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia
\n and systemic infection, if they are not treated.<\/p>\n
\n Can someone become infected with the tularemia bacteria from another person?
\n A<\/strong>. People have not been known to transmit the infection
\n to others, so infected persons do not need to be isolated.<\/p>\n
\n How quickly would someone become sick if he or she were exposed to tularemia
\n bacteria?
\n A<\/strong>. The incubation period (the time from being exposed
\n to becoming ill) for tularemia is typically 3 to 5 days, but can range
\n from 1 to 14 days.<\/p>\n
\n What should someone do if he or she suspects exposure to tularemia bacteria?<\/p>\n
\n see a doctor quickly. Treatment with antibiotics for a period of 10-14
\n days or more after exposure may be recommended. If you are given antibiotics,
\n it is important to take them according to the instructions you receive.
\n All of the medication you are given must be taken.<\/p>\n
\n departments should be notified immediately so an investigation and infection
\n control activities can begin.<\/p>\n
\n How is tularemia diagnosed?
\n A.<\/strong> When a person has symptoms that appear related to
\n tularemia, the healthcare worker collects specimens, such as blood or
\n sputum, for testing in a diagnostic or reference laboratory. Laboratory
\n test results for tularemia may be presumptive or confirmatory. Presumptive
\n (preliminary) identification may take less than 2 hours, but confirmatory
\n testing will take more time, often 24 to 48 hours or longer depending
\n on the methods that need to be used.<\/p>\n
\n a person may be given treatment based on symptoms before the laboratory
\n results are returned.<\/p>\n
\n Can tularemia be effectively treated with antibiotics?
\n A.<\/strong> Yes. Early antibiotic treatment is recommended whenever
\n it is likely a person was exposed to tularemia or has been diagnosed as
\n being infected with tularemia. Several types of antibiotics have been
\n effective in treating tularemia infections. The tetracycline class (such
\n as doxycycline) or fluoroquinolone class (such as ciprofloxacin) of antibiotics
\n are taken orally. Streptomycin or gentamicin are also effective against
\n tularemia, and are given by injection into a muscle or vein. Health officials
\n will test the bacteria in the early stages of the response to determine
\n which antibiotics will be most effective.<\/p>\n
\n How long can Francisella tularensis exist in the environment?
\n A<\/strong>. Francisella tularensis can remain alive for weeks
\n in water and soil.<\/p>\n
\n Is there a vaccine available for tularemia?
\n A<\/strong>. A vaccine for tularemia was used in the past to protect
\n laboratory workers, but it is not currently available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"