Three probable cases of rare 'rabbit fever' reported on Long Island

Key Points:

• Suffolk County health officials have reported three probable cases of tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," a rare bacterial disease spread by ticks, deer flies, and infected animals like rabbits and rodents.
• One confirmed case involves nine-year-old John Detmer, who fell ill after a tick bite, experiencing severe symptoms including prolonged fever and head pain before being diagnosed by an infectious disease specialist.
• Tularemia cases in Suffolk County have increased, with four reported in 2024—the highest since before 2014—while the CDC notes the disease is most common between May and September and is treatable with antibiotics.
• Preventative measures recommended by the CDC include using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals, and avoiding mowing over dead animals to reduce infection risk.
• The tularemia cases follow the recent confirmation of Bourbon virus in Suffolk County, a rare and untreatable tick-borne illness diagnosed years after infection, highlighting ongoing tick-related health threats in the area.