Tularemia

A potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis which is found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits and hares). Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness. Other symptoms depend on how the person was exposed to the bacterium and may include ulcers on the skin or mouth, swollen and painful lymph glands, swollen and painful eyes and a sore throat. People can get tularemia by being bitten by an infected tick, deerfly or other insect; handling infected animal carcasses; eating or drinking contaminated food or water; or breathing in the bacterium. The disease is not known to be contagious.