Just when we thought the latest corona virus pandemic wasn’t exciting enough another ‘new’ pathogen has emerged in Ontario. OK OK it’s not new per se (the bacteria is endemic in Ontario aka we see sporadic cases from time to time) but we don’t see it often as outbreaks AND it is also zoonotic so I think it is worth a quick mention! Other posts about zoonotic disease can be found here and here. If you haven’t been reading my posts or keeping up to date on covid-19, zoonotic disease is a disease that is transferred from animals to humans, or from humans to animals.

Tularemia or “rabbit fever” is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. Signs and symptoms, like the corona virus, range from mild to severe. Fever, fatigue, skin, mouth, and intestinal ulcerations, sore throat, inflamed/ swollen lymph nodes, meningitis, pneumonia, and breathing difficulties. Fun right? It is a reportable disease, because of those scary symptoms as well as its potential as a bio-terrorism agent.

Despite being called rabbit fever, F. tularensis does not discriminate, it is able to infect rabbits, rodents, birds, sheep, as well as other domesticated animals (and humans). Recent reports have found muskrats to be infected and dying in Long Point ON near lake Erie (35 of the animals were found sick or dead in April). Infection takes place through consuming contaminated water or food, through inhalation (think mowing your lawn over a dead infected rodent, and particles being thrown into the air, yum!), handling an infected animal or being bitten by an insect carrying the bacterium (ticks and deer flies). Thankfully there is treatment available with antibiotics.

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