WYOMING — Recent reports of tularemia activity among animals and humans in northern Wyoming are raising concerns this summer about the disease, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

“Recently, we are hearing about rabbit die-offs and have seen tularemia cases confirmed in two Weston County residents, in dead voles near Devils Tower in Crook County and in a Washakie County cat,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with WDH. “Tularemia is always a concern but is not common. To see this activity is concerning.” -Wyoming Department of Health

Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever” or “deer fly fever,” frequently affects rabbits, hares and rodents and has been associated with rabbit and rodent die-offs. People may acquire tularemia when bit by infected ticks, deer flies or horse flies. It can also be transmitted by handling infected animals, or through ingestion or contact with untreated, contaminated water or insufficiently cooked meat.

Murphy said tularemia can be a serious disease and, in rare cases, deadly. Tularemia symptoms can include fever, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, skin ulcers and diarrhea.  If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness and pneumonia.

Recommendations to help avoid tick-related diseases include:

• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks crawling on clothing.
• Tuck pant legs into socks.
• Apply insect repellents such as those containing 20 percent or more DEET and/or picaradin.
• Upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, search self and children for ticks and remove if found.
• Check pets for ticks; use tick control products recommended by veterinarians.

Added precautions to help reduce tularemia risk include:

• Avoid bathing, swimming or working in untreated water and avoid drinking untreated water.
• Avoid handling rabbits, squirrels or other animals that appear sick.
• Wear rubber gloves when skinning animals, especially rabbits and squirrels; skin animals in a well-ventilated area.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling sick or dead animals.
• Cook meat thoroughly before eating, especially rabbit and squirrel.