Overview

Tularemia is a rare infectious disease. Also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, it typically attacks the skin, eyes, lymph nodes and lungs. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.

The disease mainly affects rabbits, hares, and rodents, such as muskrats and squirrels. Tularemia can also infect birds, sheep and domestic animals, such as dogs, cats and hamsters.

Tularemia spreads to humans in several ways, including insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal. Tularemia is highly contagious and potentially fatal, but can usually be treated effectively with specific antibiotics if diagnosed early.