Three probable cases of rare ‘rabbit fever’ reported on Long Island

Source: New York Post

Three probable cases of the rare “rabbit fever” have been detected in Suffolk County, health officials have revealed. The Suffolk County Department of Health (SCDHS) announced the potential cases of tularemia — a bacterial disease spread through tick and deer fly bites, as well as through infected rabbits, hares and rodents — adding that it may take weeks for the cases to be confirmed. “Confirmation of a tularemia diagnosis requires a combination of laboratory testing and fulfillment of specific clinical or epidemiologic criteria,” the department told ABC7.