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Key Facts About Tularemia

This fact sheet provides important information that can help you recognize and get treated for tularemia. For more detailed information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tularemia Web site.

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.


How Does Tularemia Spread?

People can get tularemia many different ways:

  • being bitten by an infected tick, deerfly or other insect
  • handling infected animal carcasses
  • eating or drinking contaminated food or water
  • breathing in the bacteria, F. tularensis


How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?


What Should I Do if I Think I Have Tularemia?


How Is Tularemia Treated?

Your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics, which must be taken according to the directions supplied with your prescription to ensure the best possible result. Let your doctor know if you have any allergy to antibiotics.


What Can I Do To Prevent Becoming Infected with Tularemia?

Tularemia occurs naturally in many parts of the United States. Use insect repellent containing DEET on your skin, or treat clothing with repellent containing permethrin, to prevent insect bites. Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water, especially after handling animal carcasses. Be sure to cook your food thoroughly and that your water is from a safe source.


Can Tularemia Be Used As a Weapon?


What is CDC Doing About Tularemia?

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:

  • Stockpiling antibiotics to treat infected people
  • Coordinating a nation-wide program where states share information about tularemia
  • Creating new education tools and programs for health professionals, the public, and the media.
  • Page last updated October 7, 2003

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