A new CDC report reveals a significant rise in tularemia cases, also known as rabbit fever, linked to lawn mowing activities.
City: The report highlights a concerning trend in the U.S. where cases of tularemia, or rabbit fever, are on the rise. The CDC has noted a significant increase in infections.
From 2011 to 2022, 47 states reported over 2,400 cases, which is a 56% jump compared to the previous decade. This is pretty alarming!
The disease is caused by a bacterium called Francisella tularensis, and it can be serious if not treated. It’s one of those things you definitely don’t want to mess with.
So, how does it spread? Well, it can come from bites by infected ticks or deer flies, and even from touching infected animals like rabbits and rodents. Yikes!
Symptoms are usually flu-like, so you might feel feverish, tired, and have headaches. Not fun at all. The CDC says kids aged 5-9 and older adults are the most affected.
Interestingly, officials are still trying to figure out if the rise in cases is due to better reporting or if the disease is actually spreading more. It’s a bit of a mystery.
Now, here’s where it gets really interesting: mowing your lawn can actually aerosolize the bacteria. If you run over nests of infected animals, you could be spreading it around!
This was first noticed in Massachusetts back in 2000, leading to a six-month outbreak. That’s a serious wake-up call for anyone who loves their lawn.
In Canada, tularemia is naturally occurring, but human cases are rare. However, a recent study suggests that more Canadians are getting sick from tick-borne diseases.
