Tularemia
Questions and answers
What is tularemia?
Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is widespread in animals in the U.S., with most cases occurring in the south central and western states. People may become infected with Tularemia through the bite of infected insects; by handling sick or dead infected animals, typically rodents or rabbits; by ingesting contaminated food or water; or by inhaling airborne bacteria. Tularemia is treatable with antibiotics. To find more on the disease, check out the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) webpage.