Where is francisella tularensis found

Apply insect repellent in moderation, and wash it off at the end of the day. Check yourself for ticks often and remove them immediately if you find any.

Be sure to check your pets too. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Tularemia is a rare infectious disease. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Mayo Clinic; Tularemia statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Accessed Oct. Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Goldman L, et al. If Francisella tularensis were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne so they could be inhaled. People who inhale the bacteria can experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection, if they are not treated. Can someone become infected with the tularemia bacteria from another person?

People have not been known to transmit the infection to others, so infected persons do not need to be isolated. How quickly would someone become sick if he or she were exposed to tularemia bacteria?

The incubation period the time from being exposed to becoming ill for tularemia is typically 3 to 5 days, but can range from 1 to 14 days. What should someone do if he or she suspects exposure to tularemia bacteria? If you suspect you were exposed to tularemia bacteria, see a doctor quickly.

Treatment with antibiotics for a period of days or more after exposure may be recommended. If you are given antibiotics, it is important to take them according to the instructions you receive. All of the medication you are given must be taken. Local and state health departments should be notified immediately so an investigation and infection control activities can begin. How is tularemia diagnosed? When a person has symptoms that appear related to tularemia, the healthcare worker collects specimens, such as blood or sputum, for testing in a diagnostic or reference laboratory.

Laboratory test results for tularemia may be presumptive or confirmatory. Presumptive preliminary identification may take less than 2 hours, but confirmatory testing will take more time, often 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the methods that need to be used. Depending on the circumstances, a person may be given treatment based on symptoms before the laboratory results are returned.

Can tularemia be effectively treated with antibiotics? Early antibiotic treatment is recommended whenever it is likely a person was exposed to tularemia or has been diagnosed as being infected with tularemia. Francisella tularensis is very infectious.

A small number or so organisms can cause disease. People who inhale an infectious aerosol would generally experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection, if they are not treated.

The bacteria that cause tularemia occur widely in nature and could be isolated and grown in quantity in a laboratory, although manufacturing an effective aerosol weapon would require considerable sophistication. The CDC operates a national program for bioterrorism preparedness and response that incorporates a broad range of public health partnerships. Other things CDC is doing include:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Emergency Preparedness and Response. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Key Facts About Tularemia. Minus Related Pages. What is Tularemia? What are the Symptoms of Tularemia? Symptoms of tularemia could include: sudden fever chills headaches diarrhea muscle aches joint pain dry cough progressive weakness People can also catch pneumonia and develop chest pain, bloody sputum and can have trouble breathing and even sometimes stop breathing.