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Article: Tularemia transmitted by insect bites--Wyoming, 2001-2003.
- Article from:
- MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
- Article date:
- February 25, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a fastidious, gram-negative coccobacillus that infects vertebrates, especially rabbits and rodents. In humans, tularemia is classified into six major syndromes: ulcero-glandular (the most common form), glandular, typhoidal, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, and pneumonic. The case-fatality rate among humans can reach 30%-60% in untreated typhoidal cases (1). Although bites from ticks and handling infected animals are considered the most common modes of tularemia transmission in the United States (2-4), the disease also is spread through ingestion of contaminated food or water, inhalation, and insect bites ...