Tularemia-hotspot discovered: Hasenpest spreads out in the Rhein-Sieg district!

Tularemia-hotspot discovered: Hasenpest spreads out in the Rhein-Sieg district!
In the Rhein-Sieg district, several cases of Tularemia, also known as the rabbit plague, were recently detected in field hares. The first documented case appeared in Siegburg-Kaldauen in November 2024 when the pathogen was discovered in a rabbit. This was followed by further evidence: on April 4, 2025 in Eitorf and on April 25, 2025 in Alfter. The cadavers of the affected animals were handed over to the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office in Rhein-Ruhr-Wupper (CVUA) in Krefeld in order to carry out further examinations. This disease is caused by the bacterium francisella tulensis .
tularemia primarily affects wild rabbits, rabbits and rodents. However, other animals and people are also at risk. The symptoms of infected rabbits are diverse and include apathy, loss of shy, fever and increased respiratory rate. Sepsis is a common cause of death in these animals. People who are infected show flu -like symptoms such as fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. The possible complications that can lead to pneumonia or the participation of other organs such as liver, kidney and heart are particularly dangerous. A transfer to humans is usually made by contact with infected field hares.
transmission paths and risk groups
The infection can be done through different ways. This includes skin and mucosal contact and the consumption of insufficiently heated meat. Insect bites or contaminated dusts and aerosols are less likely to trigger the disease. It is important to emphasize that there are no documented transfers from person to person. There is also a low risk for dogs, but animals with a weak immune system can also be infected. This shows symptoms such as loss of appetite, fever and swollen lymph nodes. The owners are advised to keep dogs away from the dead or sick rabbits.
A striking animal should be reported to the Veterinary and Food Commercial Office of the Rhein-Sieg district immediately. In Switzerland, where tularemia rarely occurs, tick bites, hunting or growing animals are often responsible for transmission. The disease has been reported since 2004 and the number of cases has increased since 2015. There is no vaccine against tularemia, but the infection can usually be treated with antibiotics. Tularemia also has the potential to be used as a biological weapon, since the pathogen in the environment is stable and a low infectious dose is required to trigger diseases.
The symptoms of tularemia typically occur within three to five days after the infection, in rare cases the incubation period can be up to 21 days. In many cases, the disease can be fatal in many cases, although mortality in Switzerland is less than 1 percent. Monitoring and education are therefore essential to protect endangered groups and to contain the spread of the pathogen. Ausbadhonnef.de reports on the progressive situation, while BAG.ADMIN.CH provides additional information on the illness and its treatment.
Details | |
---|---|
Quellen |