A rise in tularemia infections in Minnesota animals prompted a warning from state well being officers, significantly to cat homeowners, who might get sick if their pets get contaminated and scratch or chew them.
Solely 21 instances have been present in animals final yr, however that tripled the same old whole, based on an alert issued Thursday by the Minnesota Division of Well being. Seven instances have already been reported in 2024.
The rise could possibly be attributable to elevated consciousness and testing, however veterinarians are noting signs resembling excessive fever, swelling and pores and skin sores in untested animals as effectively, stated Maria Bye, a senior state well being epidemiologist for zoonotic illnesses.
“It is essential for pet homeowners to pay attention to this illness of their pets as a result of it’s attainable for an individual to turn into contaminated as effectively,” Bye stated.
Tularemia just isn’t unfold individual to individual, so the six or fewer human instances in Minnesota every year normally consequence from animal bites or scratches, or tick or fly bites. Squirrels, rabbits and mice are frequent carriers of Francisella tularensis, the micro organism that causes the illness. Minnesota recorded one uncommon case this month: A Hennepin County resident turned contaminated after working a garden mower over a lifeless animal and respiration within the aerosolized micro organism.
Excessive fever and different signs usually emerge in folks three to 5 days after publicity.
The Well being Division urged Minnesotans to guard themselves by avoiding contact with wild animals and carrying tick repellent outside. Pet homeowners ought to take into account medicine for his or her pets to keep at bay tick bites and stop their cats from going outside and looking small animals.
