Indicator Profile of Zoonotic Illnesses - Tularemia Cases
Why Is This Important?
Tularemia is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is commonly found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares). People can be infected by the bacteria in a number of ways. The most common mode of transmission is by the bite of a blood-sucking insect, such as a deerfly or tick, which previously bit an infected animal. People can also get tularemia by direct contact with infected animals and animal products. This includes being exposed to blood or tissue from infected animals and by handling or eating rabbit meat that is not cooked well. Drinking contaminated water or breathing dust containing the bacteria may also put a person at risk for becoming ill. Person-to-person spread of the disease does not occur.Tularemia is more common in males of all ages, though rates among male children under 10 years and males 75 years and older are especially high. Rates in children may be associated with an increased opportunity for exposure to infected ticks and animals. Also, high rates among American Indians/Alaska Natives are thought to be associated with a higher risk for exposure.
Symptoms of tularemia may include sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. People can also catch pneumonia and develop chest pain, bloody sputum and can have trouble breathing and even sometimes stop breathing. Other signs and symptoms of tularemia depend on how a person was exposed to the bacteria. These can include ulcers on the skin or mouth, swollen and painful lymph glands, swollen and painful eyes, and a sore throat.
In 1995, tularemia was dropped from the list of nationally notifiable diseases because it was so uncommon. However, because of fears that the bacterium could be used as a bioterrorism agent, tularemia was reinstated as a reportable disease in 2000. Tularemia is an urgent notifiable disease in Utah and is considered a Category A Bioterrorism Disease. This category of diseases includes high-priority agents that pose a risk to national security because they can either be easily disseminated; result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; might cause public panic and social disruption; and require special action for public health preparedness.
Number of Reported Tularemia Cases per 100,000 Population per Year, Utah and U.S., 1980-2007
Data Notes
The U.S. rates are derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The Utah rates are derived from Utah's National Electronic Telecommunication System for Surveillance and annual surveillance reports. Both U.S. and Utah 2007 rates are preliminary and subject to change. Tularemia was removed from the national notifiable disease list for the 1995-1999 time period so national rates are unavailable for those years.Data Sources
U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on-line data - CDC WONDER; Utah Department of Health;Definition
Tularemia is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is commonly found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares).How We Calculated the Rates
| Numerator: | Number of tularemia cases in Utah per year. |
| Denominator: | Total Utah population. |
Page Content Updated On 06/13/08,
Published on 06/13/08
