Human Case Of ‘Rabbit Fever’ Reported In Cook County

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed a human case of tularemia in Cook County. Also known as “rabbit fever,” the Cook County case has been tied to rabbit exposure. A wild rabbit found in Tinley Park tested positive for tularemia over the weekend.

The state public health department was unable to confirm a specific individual, location or time that could identify the patient, citing federal confidentiality laws. IDPH is prohibited from providing private health information. The patient being treated for tularemia is reportedly from Tinley Park and was handling baby wild rabbits, according to a source.

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control issued an alert to residents over the weekend confirming that a wild rabbit found in Tinley Park underwent testing at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign came back positive for tularemia.

Keep Pets On Leashes After Disease-Infected Rabbit Found: Village

The rabbit was found June 13 in the 7500 block of West 161st Place in Tinley Park. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, and all forms are accompanied by fever, which can be as high as 104 °F.

Although tularemia can be life-threatening, most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. Tularemia has been reported in every state except for Hawaii. Humans can become infected through several routes, including:

• Tick and deer fly bites
• Skin contact with infected animals
• Ingestion of contaminated water
• Inhalation of contaminated aerosols or agricultural dusts
• Laboratory exposure

Tularemia exposure can be prevented by taking the following steps:

• Use of insect repellent
• Wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals
• Avoiding mowing over dead animals

Residents are advised to keep pets and children away from deceased animals, particularly rabbits. Monitor your pets when out walking so they don’t approach or eat deceased animals. If you find a dead rabbit or rodent on your property, contact Cook County Animal and Rabies Control at 708-974-6140 for further removal instructions.

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