Tularemia outbreak on west side of Lake Utah

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: EP-20070717-12378-USA
Date / time: 17/07/2007 03:37:17
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Utah
City: Unknow
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:

Several people who mysteriously became sick after camping on the west side of Utah Lake might have contracted tularemia, officials at the Utah Department of Health said. While they are still awaiting lab confirmation of the diagnosis, officials issued an advisory to avoid contracting the infectious bacterium, which commonly causes fever and swollen lymph nodes. A treatable infection, tularemia usually spreads through tick and deerfly bites, but it also can be contracted through mosquitoes or by direct contact with an infected animal. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to wear long, light-colored pants tucked into boots or socks and long-sleeved shirts, stay on marked trails, avoid walking in tall grasses, use repellents containing DEET and avoid direct contact with wild animals including their feces and carcasses. Health officials advise those who believe they have infected bug bites to contact their physician or local health departments and mention tularemia. Treatments for the infection are different from that typically used for skin infections.


More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&cid=12378

[nebenaube]

1. note

This bio-agent was weaponized in the early 60's.