In the height of summer, with tick season in full swing on the East Coast, health officials are investigating a non-contagious bacterial infection on Long Island. The Suffolk County Department of Health reports three probable cases of tularemiaOr rabbit feverin Suffolk County. The agency told ABC 7 New York: “Confirmation of a diagnosis of tularemia requires a combination of laboratory tests and compliance with specific clinical or epidemiological criteria.“, which explains why the wait for results can last several weeks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the illness caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis remains very rare, with fewer than 200 cases recorded each year in the United States, especially between May and September. . The New York State Department of Health indicates that no cases have yet been officially confirmed in the state in 2026, although vigilance remains maximum.
Three probable cases of rabbit fever in Suffolk County: what we know
The Suffolk County Department of Health explains that these three patients are considered “probable cases” because their symptoms and exposure are consistent with tularemia, but that laboratory tests are still underway. Doctors are waiting for these results to confirm, or not, the presence of the disease in the coming weeks.
One of these probable cases concerns 9-year-old John, bitten by a tick while playing outside, according to his parents interviewed by ABC 7. His mother Tracey Detmer describes intense head and neck pain, a fever that lasted ten days and nights of watching him cry without being able to relieve him. Three months after the injection, the child remains very tired, which shows that convalescence can be long.
How tularemia is transmitted and what signs should alert you
Transmission takes place thus in nature or in the forest:
- Direct contact with an infected animal (rabbit, hare, rodents – alive or dead) via a wound or damaged skin;
- Via a tick or insect bite (mosquito, horsefly) having bitten a contaminated animal;
- By inhalation of contaminated dust or particles, during mowing or activities in the forest;
- Very rarely, by ingestion of contaminated water or food.
Of course, there is nothing very pleasant about this illness: it starts like a bad flu, with high fever, fatigue, aches, headaches and muscle pain. Then, it progresses according to the “port of entry”: ulcer on the skin, swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia or digestive infection in severe forms. “The disease can be serious, but rapid treatment with antibiotics is very effective. It is therefore very rarely fatal today” says Dr Gérald Kierzek. Other important information, it is not contagious between humans. And fortunately!
The New York State Department of Health also focuses on prevention: anti-tick repellents, covering clothing, checking the skin after an outing and thoroughly cooking game.