Rabbit fever

Rabbit fever, also known as Tularemia, is a rare infectious disease that typically affects rabbits, hares, and rodents. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. The disease is named after Tulare County, California, where it was discovered in 1911.

Symptoms

The symptoms of rabbit fever depend on how the bacteria enter the body. They can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Dry cough
• Progressive weakness

People can also catch pneumonia and develop chest pain, bloody sputum and can have trouble breathing, even sometimes stop breathing.

Causes

Rabbit fever is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can survive for weeks at low temperatures in water, soil, hay, straw, or animal droppings. Humans can become infected through:

• Bites by infected insects, most commonly ticks and deer flies
• Skin contact with infected animals
• Ingesting contaminated water
• Inhaling contaminated aerosols or dust

Treatment

Rabbit fever is a potentially serious illness that requires immediate medical attention. The specific treatment depends on the nature and severity of the symptoms, but typically includes antibiotics such as Streptomycin, Gentamicin, or Doxycycline.

Prevention

Prevention strategies include using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals, and not drinking untreated water.

See also

• Zoonosis
• Tick-borne disease
• List of diseases caused by insects