infectious diseases
Tularemia
Prevention of Tularemia
When entering endemic areas, people should use tick-proof clothing and repellents. A thorough search for ticks should be done after leaving tick-infested areas. Ticks should be removed at once (see sidebar Prevention ). When handling rabbits, hares, and rodents, especially in endemic areas, people should wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and face masks, because organisms may be present in the animal and in tick feces on the animal’s fur. Wild birds and game must be thoroughly cooked before eating. Water that may be contaminated must be disinfected before use. No vaccine is currently available, although one is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Antibiotic prophylaxis with 14 days of oraldoxycyclineorciprofloxacinis recommended after high-risk exposure (eg, a laboratory accident). 