A damp spring has provided rabbits with ample food supplies and, as a result, has increased the population of rabbits which, in turn, has upped the risk for a relatively rare bacterial disease in the state-tularemia, or rabbit fever. Fifteen folks have contracted tularemia (as well-lah-‘REE-mee-ah), or rabbit fever, so far this year.
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Health officials believe that the unusually high number of rabbit fever cases in Colorado this year could be linked to the growing number of rabbits spurred by additional vegetation in the state. State and local health officials have asked doctors to remain cautious and asked people to take precautions if bunnies are around. The fever proves problematic especially in a normally arid place whose symptoms include fever, chills, headaches and swollen glands.
State veterinarian Jennifer House said that more bacteria are now present in the environment for humans to pick up.
Greener conditions in Colorado have also led to a surge in two other diseases carried by small mammals: hantavirus and plague which are both carried by rodents.
There have been five recorded cases of hantavirus infection in Colorado this year, wherein four of the cases were fatal. Colorado had eight cases of plague previous year, more than usual.
Colorado also recorded one case of the plague this year after a 16-year-old athlete named Taylor Gaes was killed by this rare form of illness.
Health officials have suggested people not to go barefoot while they work in their yards.
Dog owners are also advised not to allow their pets to chase rodents or rabbits or drink water from puddles that could be contaminated with the tularemia bacteria.
Plague- caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis-is not uncommon in the western and southwestern United States. However, hantavirus is caused by a virus, and there is no vaccine for it. In addition, the natural predators of rabbits, such as foxes, skunks, and hawks have had a population dip due to an outbreak of mange and West Nile fever.
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“Even though they’re cute, they carry a potentially serious disease”, she said.
