Alarm in Lower Saxony: Hasenpest threatens animals and people!

Alarm in Lower Saxony: Hasenpest threatens animals and people!

in Lower Saxony, more precisely in Isenbüttel in the Gifhorn district, an outbreak of the rabbit plague, also known as Tularemia, has been found. This highly infectious zoonose is caused by the bacterium francisella tulensis primarily in brown hare, but can also infect other animals and humans. The disease is potentially life -threatening and brings with it various health -hazardous symptoms.

according to the current reports of Fr.de already affected animals have already been registered in Lower Saxony. The animals that can infect with the bacterium include rodents, rodents, deer, hedgehogs, foxes, birds and pets such as dogs and cats. Attentive birds of prey and seagulls contribute to the geographical spread of the pathogen, especially in light -flooded regions with little forest.

symptoms and transmission

The symptoms in the rabbits express themselves in a shaped fur, uncertain gait, apathy and loss of shyness, which can lead to blood poisoning and thus to death in severe cases. The acute disease can run in just 2 to 13 days after the infection. In humans, too, symptoms occur 2 to 14 days after contact with infected animals, including fever, lymph node swelling, poorly healing wounds and breathing problems. The transmission takes place through skin and mucosal contact, consumption of insufficiently cooked meat or contaminated water as well as through insect bites.

The Hessian state laboratory announced that two cases of the rabbit plague were already registered in Hesse in 2025, but the situation is currently difficult to assess due to the low number of cases. In the past 13 years, a total of 79 animal bodies have been detected with the Tularemia pathogens, with 95% of these cases being brown hare. The disease is subject to reporting, as well as the disease in rabbits and rabbits, such as the fli.de reported.

prevention measures and recommendations

experts recommend various protective measures to avoid infection. In addition to the distance to striking wild animals and carcasses, this includes wearing FFP2 masks and disposable gloves. In addition, meat should always be fried well, and dogs should be led on a leash. The initial symptoms of Tularemia can also lead to serious health problems in humans.

Around 20 to 30 cases occur in Germany annually, with a total of 500 to 1,000 cases being recorded in Europe. The Robert Koch-Institut (rki) соощает that the transfer to humans-mainly zoonotic-is not, a man-to-human transmission is proven, but is considered possible.

The disease remains highly dangerous in the event of an untreated infection, with a lethal probability of up to 60% for certain subspecies of the pathogen. Early medical intervention is all the more important, since treatment with antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and fluorchinolons can be very effective.