In 2024, 5 individuals and 27 animals in Minnesota contracted the uncommon bacterial illness tularemia within the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan space, state well being authorities and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reported yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Two of the contaminated individuals reported not too long ago mowing over animal carcasses; all have been hospitalized for a median of 6 days and launched with out issues.
Annually from 2000 to 2023, a median of 1 individual and two animals within the state have been recognized as having the doubtless severe sickness, often transmitted through tick or deer-fly bites, inhalation of contaminated materials, or contact with contaminated animals, the authors famous. Animal tularemia instances spiked in Minnesota in 2023, with 20 instances; no human instances have been reported.
Tularemia instances have been rising within the United Statesclimbing by greater than half from 2011 to 2022, the CDC reported in December 2024.
Attributable to the bacterium Francisella tularensistularemia sometimes impacts 200 to 300 individuals annually in america, most frequently within the central a part of the nation.
Signs rely upon how the individual was uncovered and often embrace fever and native indicators similar to swollen lymph nodes and pores and skin ulcers. There isn’t a Meals and Drug Administration–authorized vaccine towards tularemia.
4 sufferers had pneumonic illness
Of the 5 individuals recognized in 2024, 4 had pneumonic tularemia, which is often attributable to inhaling bacteria-containing mud or aerosols. Three sufferers weren’t recognized as having tularemia till after hospital launch. After analysis, all sufferers have been prescribed the antibiotics ciprofloxacin or doxycycline as postexposure prevention.
Compared, 2 of 32 (6.3%) human tularemia instances in Minnesota recognized from 2000 to 2023 have been the pneumonic kind.
Of the 27 tularemia-positive animals reported through lab studies or veterinarians in 2024, 21 (78%) have been home cats, 5 (19%) have been home canines, and 1 (4%) was a wild rabbit. Most animals had a nonlocalized typhoidal an infection or oropharyngeal manifestations characterised by fever, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph glands.
4 animals (15%) died of their infections, and two (7%) have been euthanized as a result of a poor prognosis or concern about prices. Three pet homeowners and one veterinary employee have been uncovered, and one proprietor took antibiotics after a scratch from an contaminated cat, however none developed tularemia.
No ticks have been discovered throughout drag sampling for 3 human and two animal instances on the doubtless publicity web site and close by public areas. Within the case of the 2 sufferers who reported mowing over animal carcasses, rabbit and mouse stays discovered on the web site have been too decomposed for testing.
Well being employees suggested to think about tularemia
“Elevated veterinary consciousness after tularemia-related communications in 2023 doubtless contributed to the rise in animal tularemia case reporting, along with a real enhance in instances,” the authors wrote.
Veterinarians ought to take into account tularemia in cats and canines with suitable signs, together with excessive fever, oral ulcers, and lymphadenopathy.
They urged healthcare suppliers to think about tularemia in sufferers with fever and historical past of tick or deer-fly bites, contact with sick animals, or mowing over a rabbit or rodent.
“When ordering testing for a affected person in whom tularemia is suspected, suppliers ought to alert the laboratory to make sure that laboratorians take applicable precautions similar to working in a biosafety cupboard and sporting gloves, robes, and eye safety,” they concluded. “Veterinarians ought to take into account tularemia in cats and canines with suitable signs, together with excessive fever, oral ulcers, and lymphadenopathy.”
