Zoonotic Diseases - Epidemiology Report
June 2, 2011
Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is found throughout the northern hemisphere, and the primary reservoir hosts are rabbits and rodents. Ticks serve as both reservoirs and vectors of tularemia. Typically, humans become infected through tick or deerfly bites or by handling infected animals.