Three Probable Tularemia Cases Identified on Long Island
Suffolk County health officials reported three probable cases of the tick-borne disease tularemia on Long Island, including a 9-year-old boy, and warned residents to seek medical care if symptoms develop.
Health authorities in Suffolk County, New York, have confirmed three probable cases of tularemia, a rare bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, rodents and other wildlife. The department said laboratory testing and specific clinical criteria are required for a definitive diagnosis, which can take several weeks.
One of the cases involves a 9-year-old boy who was bitten by a tick while playing outdoors. After the bite, he experienced high fever, severe head and neck pain, swollen lymph nodes, body aches and fatigue. An infectious-disease specialist later diagnosed him with tularemia, noting that the tick likely acquired the bacteria from wild rabbits in the family’s yard.
Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, is classified by the CDC as a tier-1 select agent because of its potential for misuse. Although the disease is uncommon, the United States reported 196 cases in 2023, and surveillance data show a 56 % rise in incidence from 2011-2022 compared with the previous decade. Dr. Daniel Ruderfer, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, attributed part of the increase to newer diagnostic methods such as PCR testing.
The CDC notes that humans can become infected through tick or deer-fly bites, direct contact with infected animals, or exposure to contaminated water or aerosols. Symptoms vary but often include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes and, depending on the infection site, skin ulcers, conjunctivitis, pneumonia or bloodstream infection. While the overall mortality rate is below 2 %, severe cases can be fatal.
Antibiotics are effective against tularemia, but no vaccine is currently available. Dr. Ruderfer emphasized that prompt treatment is essential, especially for children aged 5-9, older men and certain Indigenous populations who may have higher exposure risk. He advised individuals who hunt or handle rabbits, or who develop concerning symptoms after a tick bite, to seek medical evaluation.