Rare disease linked to rabbits has Colorado health officials on alert - Yahoo

Hide Caption #videoDetailsToggle{color:var( --color-dove-gray,rgba(0,0,0,.6));cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-family:var(--sans-serif,sans-serif);font-size:var(--type-7);font-weight:var( --font-weight-bold,900);line-height:var(--spacer-twentyfour,24px);margin-bottom:-8px}#vdt_hide{margin-bottom:10px}.vdt-flex{display:none}.vdt-svg{fill:var( --color-dove-gray,rgba(0,0,0,.6));height:var(--spacer-twentyfour,24px);width:var(--spacer-twentyfour,24px)} (function() { let vdContainer, vdShow, vdHide, flagCaption = false, vdToggle = document.getElementById('videoDetailsToggle'), section = ga_data.route.sectionName || ga_data.route.ssts.split('/'), subsection = ga_data.route.ssts.split('/'); vdToggle.addEventListener('click', ()=> { // query dom only after user click if (!vdContainer) { vdContainer = document.getElementById('videoDetailsContainer'); vdShow = document.getElementById('vdt_show'), vdHide = document.getElementById('vdt_hide'); } vdContainer.hidden = !(vdContainer.hidden); // show/hide elements if (vdContainer.hidden) { vdShow.hidden = false; vdHide.hidden = true; } else { if (!flagCaption) { flagCaption = true; fireCaptionAnalytics() } vdShow.hidden = true; vdHide.hidden = false; } }); function fireCaptionAnalytics () { let analytics = document.getElementById("pageAnalytics"); try { if (analytics) { analytics.fireEvent(`${ga_data.route.basePageType}|${section}|${subsection}|streamline|expandCaption`); } else { if (window.newrelic) window.newrelic.noticeError('page analytics tag not found'); } } catch (e) { if (window.newrelic) window.newrelic.noticeError(e); } } }()); Backyard ticks in Pittsburgh: hidden danger for familiesTick season is here in Pittsburgh. We look at where ticks hide, how they spread disease and the simple steps that keep kids and pets safer outside.A rare but potentially serious disease tied to rabbits and ticks has been detected in northern Colorado, prompting a warning as human risk rises heading into summer. Health officials said on June 9 that tularemia was confirmed in a dead rabbit in Larimer County and is likely present elsewhere. Though human infections are rare, the disease can spread through insect bites, animal contact, and airborne dust, making outdoor precautions critical during peak months. "Because tularemia is present in Larimer County, it's important to take steps to avoid infection," Paul Mayer, the Larimer County health department’s medical officer, said. Mayer recommended residents to always "use effective insect repellent, check skin for ticks after being outdoors, and keep children and pets away from wild animals, including rabbits and squirrels." Tularemia is caused by bacteria often found in rabbits and rodents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can be transferred to humans through contact with infected animal tissue, as well as inhaling contaminated dust or drinking contaminated water. The disease can also be transmitted to humans through ticks and deer flies. According to the CDC, tularemia is a relatively rare disease in humans. In 2023, 196 cases were reported in humans across the United States, but that rarity was not always the case, as in the middle of the 20th century, cases in the United States hovered around 1,000 per year. Colorado health officials also outlined steps people can take to reduce the risk of tularemia: Wear gloves while gardening and wash your hands before eating or touching your face.Use an EPA-registered insect repellent effective against ticks and biting flies (such as DEET or picaridin).Wear a dust mask when mowing, using a leaf blower, or digging in soil.Wear shoes outdoors, especially in areas where dead animals may have been.Use protective gloves to remove dead rabbits or rodents from your property.Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.