MINNEAPOLIS — Officers have issued a warning over a rise of tularemia instances in Minnesota animals, particularly cats within the Twin Cities metro space.The Minnesota Division of Well being and Minnesota Board of Animal Well being are monitoring the rise in instances. They warn folks can turn out to be contaminated as nicely.Tularemia, also called “rabbit fever,” is usually present in animals, particularly squirrels, rabbits and different rodents, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. It’s attributable to the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Pets are normally uncovered by looking rodents, or by means of tick or fly bites.
Solely about seven animal tularemia instances are sometimes reported yearly, in response to MDH. In 2023, 21 instances have been reported. Seven instances have been reported to this point this yr.Indicators of sickness in animals embody a excessive fever, weak spot, lack of urge for food, newly shaped pores and skin or mouth ulcers and swollen lymph nodes. MDH warns folks can turn out to be contaminated, primarily by means of contact with sick animals.”Pet homeowners should be conscious that cats, particularly, can turn out to be very unwell with a excessive fever and might rapidly succumb to the illness. It is necessary for pet homeowners to concentrate on this illness of their pets as a result of it’s doable for an individual to turn out to be contaminated as nicely,” says Maria Bye, senior epidemiologist within the Zoonotic Illnesses Unit at MDH.Folks normally turn out to be contaminated with tularemia from tick and fly bites, bites and scratches from contaminated pet cats or by touching animals which have the illness. There are six or fewer human tularemia instances annually in Minnesota, in response to MDH. Tularemia just isn’t unfold individual to individual.In Could 2024, an individual from Ramsey County developed tularemia after being bitten by a stray cat. In June, an individual from Hennepin County grew to become contaminated after mowing over a lifeless animal.Well being officers say indicators and signs of tularemia in people embody fever, pores and skin wounds or ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, complications, chills, joint and muscle ache and nausea. Signs usually seem three to 5 days after publicity however might happen as quickly as the subsequent day or as much as 14 days after publicity.
MDH and BAH recommends pet homeowners to maintain cats indoors and to not permit pets to hunt small animals. Pets must also be given tick preventative medicine. Pets that develop signs in line with tularemia needs to be evaluated by their veterinarian.Officers are urging everybody to make use of insect repellent, and to keep away from contact with wild animals. Anybody who should deal with wild animals ought to put on gloves.Anybody bitten or scratched by an animal that could be contaminated with tularemia ought to name MDH at 651-201-5414 in addition to their well being care skilled about what to do subsequent.
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