Pueblo child has county's first human case of 'rabbit fever' in 2022

A Pueblo County child has tested positive for tularemia, a rare infectious disease also known as "rabbit fever," that mainly affects animals but can be transmitted to humans, health officials said Friday.

The child, who lives in Pueblo West, has been treated for the disease and is expected to make a full recovery, Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment spokeswoman Sarah Joseph said.

“Pueblo residents, especially those living in Pueblo West, are advised that tularemia-causing bacteria may be present in some of the mammals, especially rabbits, rodents, and hares, and on the ground where these animals may be active,” PDPHE program manager Alicia Solis said in a statement.

Tularemia in humans is highly contagious and potentially fatal, but can be treated effectively with antibiotics if diagnosed early, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Only about 200 cases of human tularemia are recorded in the U.S. each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website, and Pueblo County has only recorded five cases of tularemia in its history.

Most cases occur in the south-central and western states and nearly all cases occur in rural areas.

The disease is typically transmitted through tick bites and biting flies, or from handling infected rodents, rabbits, or hares, the CDC says.

It can also be spread through soil contaminated with the droppings or urine of sick animals, and via bacteria that are dispersed through the air and inhaled when a person mows their lawn, blows leaves, or turns soil.

“Because tularemia is known to be in Pueblo County, precautions to prevent infection should always be taken, especially when mowing weeds or grass and when soil is disturbed,” Solis said.

Hunters who skin animals without gloves and are exposed to infected blood through an open wound are also at risk.

Typical signs of infection in humans include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, chest pain and coughing. Puebloans who believe they may have tularemia should contact their medical provider immediately.

Pets can also be infected with tularemia. If a pet shows symptoms of illness including fever, nasal and eye discharge, and skin sores, they should be taken to a veterinarian. The disease is easily treated in animals if caught early.

PDPHE recommends people take the following precautions to prevent tularemia contraction:

• Avoid handling wild animals.

• When outdoors near places where wild rabbits or rodents are present, wear insect repellent with DEET.

• Use a dust mask when mowing or doing yard work. Do not mow over animal carcasses.

• Wear shoes covering your feet when outdoors where dead animals have been found.

• Do not go barefoot or wear sandals while gardening, mowing, or landscaping.

• Wear gloves while gardening or landscaping and wash your hands after these activities.

• Do not drink unpurified water from streams or lakes or allow your pets to drink surface waters.

• Leash your pets when outdoors and keep them away from dead animals.

• Routinely use a tick and flea prevention treatment on pets.

• If a dead animal must be moved, avoid direct contact with the carcass. Wear insect repellent to protect yourself from fleas or ticks and use a long-handled shovel to scoop up the carcass.

• Place the carcass in a garbage bag and dispose in an outdoor trash receptacle. Wash your hands with soap and water afterward.

Those who hunt, trap, or skin animals should also take the following precautions:

• Use gloves that do not allow fluids to pass through when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits.

• Cook the meat of wild rabbits thoroughly to a temperature of 165°F or higher.

Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: First human case of 'rabbit fever' in 2022 confirmed in Pueblo County