Tularemia is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares).

• Sudden fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• 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 and even sometimes stop breathing. Other symptoms of tularemia depend on how a person was exposed to the tularemia bacteria. These symptoms can include ulcers on the skin or mouth, swollen and painful lymph glands, swollen and painful eyes, and a sore throat.


There are several forms of contraction of tularemia: being bitten by an infected tick, deerfly, or other insect, handling infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and breathing in the bacteria F. tularensis can all cause infection. Tularemia is not known to be spread from person to person. People who have tularemia do not need to be isolated. People who have been exposed to the tularemia bacteria should be treated as soon as possible. The disease can be fatal if it is not treated with the right antibiotics. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but can take as long as 14 days.


Your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics, which must be taken according to the directions supplied with your prescription to ensure the best possible result. Let your doctor know if you have any allergy to antibiotics. A vaccine for tularemia is under review by the Food and Drug Administration, but is not currently available in the United States.


The CDC operates a national program for bioterrorism preparedness and response that incorporates a broad range of public health partnerships. Other things CDC is doing include: stockpiling antibiotics to treat infected people, coordinating a nation-wide program where states share information about tularemia, and creating new education tools and programs for health professionals, the public, and the media.