Tularemia

Tularemia is a disease that can infect animals and people. People become infected with tularemia through tick and deer fly bites, skin contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water, inhaling contaminated aerosols or agricultural and landscaping dust, or through exposure in a laboratory. In addition, people could be exposed as a result of bioterrorism. Tularemia can take many forms and symptoms vary depending on how the person was infected. Most tularemia infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics but some infections can be life threatening. Steps to prevent tularemia infection include using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals, and avoiding mowing over dead animals.