Rare, Infectious Tick Disease Found In JeffCo Rabbit

LAKEWOOD, CO – A rabbit found in Jefferson County died from a rare, infectious tick-spread disease, the JeffCo health department said. The animal died of tularemia, a rare, infectious disease, also known as "rabbit fever." The rabbit was found near South Table Mountain Park the Jeffco Dept. of Public Health announced.

This is the first positive case of tularemia in an animal in Colorado in 2018, and the first positive case of tularemia in an animal in Jefferson County since 2015, the health department said. Colorado had an outbreak of tularemia in 2015 with 52 cases, more than any other state any other year since 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The disease is not common, compared to other diseases spread by ticks, such as Lyme Disease. There are only about 200 human cases of the disease in the U.S. each year.

Biting infected ticks and deer flies usually spread tularemia. Humans and pets can get it through contact with infected sick or dead animals, like rabbits or other rodents, the health department said.

"The disease can also be spread by eating the meat of infected rabbits or by inhaling airborne bacteria or drinking food or water contaminated with urine from an infected animal," the health department said.

Symptoms include fever, non-healing skin ulcer at the site of infection and swollen and painful lymph glands. If the infection is caused by ingesting contaminated food or water, the symptoms include a sore throat, mouth sores, abdominal pain and diarrhea. If the bacteria is inhaled, pneumonia can develop with symptoms including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough and progressive weakness.

Jefferson County Public Health recommends these steps to prevent exposure:

• Don’t feed or entice any rodent or rabbit species into your yard, back porch or patio.
• Eliminate places rabbits and other rodents could live or hide, such as piles of lumber, broken cement, trash and weeds around your home.
• Make sure that houses and outbuildings are as rodent-proof as possible. Keep foundations in good repair and eliminate overhanging trees from roof and windows.
• Avoid contact with all sick and dead rabbits and rodents. Look for the presence of blow flies or a “dead animal smell” as evidence of animal die-offs. Report areas where this happens to local or state health departments or to the appropriate campground office.
• While hiking, prevent insect bites by using insect repellent containing DEET on your skin, and treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms and legs with insect repellants containing permethrin.
• Conduct "tick checks" every 2-3 hours if you are spending a lot of time in tick-prone outdoor areas. All ticks attached to the body should be removed immediately. Using a pair of tweezers, slowly pull the tick straight out, without twisting, then wash hands thoroughly after removal.
• If you hunt or trap rabbits, protect your hands with rubber, plastic or latex gloves while skinning or handling them. Wash your hands using soap and warm water after handling animal carcasses.
• Be sure to cook wild rabbit and rodent meat thoroughly before eating.
• Note any change in the behavior of your pets (especially rodents, rabbits and hares) or livestock, and consult a veterinarian if they develop unusual symptoms. Do not handle pets that are acting unusual without gloves and face protection, as they may be sick.
• Consult a physician if a sudden unexplained illness occurs 3 to 5 days after outdoor activity.

To learn more about tularemia, visit our website at www.jeffco.us/2371 or call the Jefferson County Public Health Zoonosis program at 303-271-5730.

Image via JeffCo Dept. of Public Health