A human case of tularemia has been diagnosed in Morgan County, Colorado. Although it is not known to spread from person to person, it should be treated as soon as possible because the disease can be fatal if it isn’t treated with the right antibiotics. See more information regarding possible exposures and symptoms here.
Prevention methods for tularemia include the following:
- Wear gloves when out gardening or landscaping and practice good hand washing after participating in these
- activities.
- Wet the ground and wear a dust mask over your nose and mouth during any activities that may stir up
- contaminated dust, such as cleaning or mowing in areas where rodents and rabbits might live.
- Do not go barefoot or wear sandals while gardening, mowing or doing landscape work since the tularemia
- bacteria can be in the soil or on vegetation.
- Avoid contact with wild rodents, rabbits and hares; do not feed or handle them. If an animal carcass must be moved, place it in a garbage bag using a long-handled shovel, and place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
- Prevent insect bites; use insect repellent containing DEET on your skin, or treat clothing with insect
- repellent.
- Protect your pets. Prevent them from hunting or eating wild animals. Contact a veterinarian if your pet
- becomes ill with a high fever and/or swollen lymph nodes.
- Avoid drinking unpurified water from streams or lakes and keep your pets from doing the same.
- Be sure that food (especially game animals) is cooked thoroughly and that your water is from a safe source.