A dead rabbit found in central Illinois tested positive for a bacterial disease last week, prompting the local health department to urge residents to monitor their families and pets for signs of the illness.
The rabbit infected with tularemia was found in Tuscola, a small community south of Champaign, following weeks of reports of ill and dead squirrels in nearby Urbana. One of the rodents had also tested positive for the disease, which is rare but serious and can affect animals and humans.
“The presence of infected wildlife may indicate an increased risk of exposure in the area,” the Douglas County Health Department said in a Thursday statement, echoing an announcement made by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District three days earlier about local squirrel deaths.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis, bacteria that are mostly found in rodents, rabbits and hares. About 100 to 200 cases are reported every year in the country, and it naturally occurs in all states except Hawaii. Illinois reported nine cases in 2023, behind seven other states: Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Colorado and Kentucky.
Pets can become infected if they come into contact with or eat an infected animal, or breathe in or ingest contaminated food or water. They can also be exposed to the disease through tick and flea bites. Pet owners should watch for signs of illness and consult a veterinarian with concerns, according to Douglas County health officials. The department also urges that cats and dogs not be allowed to roam outdoors unsupervised and be protected from tick bites.
While tularemia has not been found to spread between people, humans can catch it by being bitten by an infected tick, deerfly or other insect; skin contact with infected animals; eating or drinking contaminated food or water; or breathing in the bacteria during farming or landscaping activities if a tractor or mower runs over an infected animal’s carcass.
Health officials recommend wearing EPA-registered insect repellent and long clothing outdoors, not drinking untreated surface water, and not handling sick or dead wild animals unless wearing gloves.
Symptoms in humans include fever, chills, muscle pain or tenderness, and lack of energy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tularemia manifests in six main types with different signs and symptoms depending on how the bacteria enter the body — through the skin, eyes, mouth or lungs.
Up to 80% of cases lead to skin ulcers and swollen, tender glands. Effects from the other types include painful, red eyes with yellow discharge, a sore throat, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, a dry cough, difficulty breathing, sharp chest pain, and weight loss.
Because it is rare and its symptoms can be mistaken for other common illnesses, tularemia can be difficult to diagnose. The CDC recommends sharing any likely exposures with health-care providers to help with the diagnosis.
If untreated, tularemia has a human mortality rate of 5% to 15%, which can be lowered to about 1% by antibiotic treatment, according to state health officials.
