Larimer County health officials are reminding residents and visitors to take precautions outdoors after tularemia was detected in a dead rabbit found in a southwest Berthoud neighborhood.
The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment reported that the bacteria was identified in the rabbit and said tularemia is endemic in Larimer County, meaning it is naturally present in the area and may also be present in other parts of the county.
Tularemia, sometimes called “rabbit fever,” is a rare but potentially serious bacterial disease that can affect both animals and people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible, and people can become infected in several ways, including tick or deer fly bites, contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water, or inhaling contaminated dust while farming, mowing, landscaping, or doing other outdoor work.
Health officials said residents should not handle sick or dead animals with bare hands and should keep children and pets away from rabbits, squirrels, rodents, and other wild animals.
“Because tularemia is present in Larimer County, it’s important to take steps to avoid infection,” Dr. Paul Mayer, medical officer for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, said in the county’s announcement.
The county recommends that residents use insect repellent, check for ticks after being outdoors, wear gloves while gardening or handling dead animals, wash their hands before eating or touching their face, and wear a dust mask when mowing, blowing leaves, digging, or working in areas where dead animals may have been present. The CDC also recommends preventing tick and deer fly bites and avoiding contact with sick or dead animals to reduce the risk of tularemia.
Symptoms of tularemia can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and abdominal pain. The illness can be treated with antibiotics, but residents who develop symptoms after possible exposure should contact a medical provider.
Larimer County also asks residents to report three or more dead animals found in the same area within a two-week period to the county’s Zoonosis Team at 970-498-6666.
While the confirmed case was found in Berthoud, the county said tularemia is likely present elsewhere in Larimer County. Residents in Johnstown and surrounding communities should use caution when working outside, handling soil, mowing, walking pets, or coming across dead wildlife.
Sources: Information in this article is based on public health guidance from the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
