Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” has seen an uptick in cases among humans and companion animals in Minnesota, particularly in Twin Cities residents and cats. Five human cases have been reported this year, with symptoms ranging from high fever to skin ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, people are typically exposed to tularemia through tick or fly bites, contact with infected pet cats, or by touching animals carrying the disease. The bacteria Francisella tularensis is found in wildlife, especially rabbits, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, and other rodents.
Symptoms can appear within three to five days after exposure, ranging from sudden fever to joint and muscle pain. While tularemia can be fatal if left untreated in pets, humans do not spread the disease to each other.
To protect yourself and your pets, health officials recommend keeping cats indoors, using insect repellent, avoiding contact with wild animals that appear sick or dead, and checking yards for rabbit nests before mowing. If you are bitten or scratched by an ill animal, contact the health department and consult a healthcare professional.
Source: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/25/rabbit-fever-cases-see-an-uptick-in-minnesota