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Colorado Tularemia 2015

Ronan Kelly

Retired 2020
Colorado health officials: Tularemia cases on record-breaking pace
11 human cases of tularemia have been reported since May

By Jesse Paul
The Denver Post
POSTED: 06/24/2015 01:22:14 PM MDT| UPDATED: ABOUT 16 HOURS AGO

Colorado health officials have recorded 11 human cases of tularemia since May, putting the state on pace for one of the most widespread years for the disease in more than two decades.

Last year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recorded 16 human cases, representing the second highest number of cases since 1983 when there were 20.

Before 2014, the previous average was fewer than four cases a year.
...
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_2...cials:-tularemia-cases-on-recordbreaking-pace

2014 thread: https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...-colorado-tularemia-in-seven-counties-in-2014
 
It struck me that the nature of the cases being reported in CO vs NM are very different. In NM I see no human cases reported, yet there are several in pets acquiring the disease in the classic way - contact with wildlife.

In CO, all the cases I've seen are in humans and they think lawn mowing or gardening is the point of exposure. This fact sheet from a CO veterinarian's website talks about the shifting patterns of exposure:

http://www.wheatridgeanimal.com/clie..._tularemia.pdf
Facts About Tularemia
History
Tularemia, often called “rabbit fever,” was first described in Japan in 1837. It was named after Tulare County, California where Dr. Edward Francis described it in 1911 during the investigation of a plague-like illness in ground squirrels. Tularemia currently occurs throughout North America and in many parts of Europe and Asia. Though an uncommon disease in Colorado, about 200 human cases of tularemia are reported each year in the United States. Cases have been reported in every state except Hawaii; however, most cases are reported in rural areas of south-central states (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee). The frequency of reported cases has decreased in the last 50 years and there has been a shift from winter disease (typically from exposure to rabbits during hunting) to summer disease (more likely caused by tick and deer fly bites).

So that could explain the different patterns. NM is arid so less people have lawns and gardens to tend in a way that churns up the soils as in parts of CO. Also the vectors could be different. It's still hard to explain the lack of cases in pets in CO, though. Perhaps I'm missing some reports, though if the dangers are primarily to suburban gardeners, pets might be under enough control in those areas to avoid most wildlife contacts.

ETA: There are is now a pet case and wildlife case reported in one CO county. See post #4.
 
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It would not hurt to reinforce public service announcements with warnings to use proper PPE's (disposable gloves, latex, etc.) when handling and preparing wild game for consumption. Also a warning on proper cooking temperatures and methods for cooking wilds game/bushmeat.

I was not able to find anything specifically on the CDC web site for recomendations on PPE's and handeling and processing wild game. The following information is from the Penn State Extension web site.


http://extension.psu.edu/food/safety...-game-and-fish

Field Dressing and Handling of Small Animals

It is generally recommended that small animals be handled similarly to large animals. It is also important to dress and cool small game animals as soon as possible. The practice of skinning small game animals in the field, wrapping the carcass, and placing it in a cooler will improve the overall quality and safety of the meat.

Rabbits

Because of the risk of tularemia, an infectious disease acquired from wild rabbits and transmitted to humans via skin cuts and abrasions, you should wear plastic gloves while handling these animals. Use clean water, pre-moistened wipes, or alcohol swabs to clean the knife frequently between cuts to avoid dragging bacteria into the meat.

Once the animal has expired, make an incision at the rear of the hock, between the bone and the tendon. Suspend the carcass by hanging from one hock. Sever the head at the atlas joint (the connection between the head and the first vertebra of the neck and spinal column).

Remove the other rear leg at the hock joint. Remove the tail and forelegs (at the knee joints). Cut the skin from the other rear leg to the base of the tail. Continue to cut the skin up to the rear of the suspended leg. Pull the edges of the hide away from the flesh and down over the carcass. You should need no other cuts to remove the hide.

Cut from the breastbone to the belly and remove the intestines, stomach, and lungs. Remove the suspended rear leg. Rinse the whole carcass in cold water to remove hair and blood. Cut and remove the loin in one piece to keep the muscle intact, and separate the shoulders.


Recommended Equipment (for larger game found earlier in the post -AC)

For proper field dressing, bring the following items with you when you hunt:
  • Sharp knife
  • Small hatchet
  • Whetstone or steel for sharpening
  • Several feet of rope or nylon cord
  • Rubber bands
  • Clean cloths or paper towels
  • Resealable plastic storage bags
  • A large cooler full of ice/snow
  • Ground pepper and cheesecloth
  • Disposable plastic gloves
  • Clean drinking water
Courtesy of: epicurious.com (Using disposable exam gloves in the kitchen while handling raw game meat should be common practice IMHO. - AC)

What to Cook Now: Game Meats
(Please note that cooking dose not destroy the prions responsible for chronic wasting disease.)

http://www.epicurious.com/archive/se...l/cooknow_game
tips:
  • Use a Thermometer
For safety, the USDA recommends cooking rabbit to an internal temperature of at least 160?F. Wild game birds should be cooked to an internal temperature of 180?F. If stuffed, the center of the stuffing should be checked after the thigh reads 180?F (stuffing must reach 165?F).
  • Use a Timer
When roasting buffalo, count on about 16 minutes per pound in a 350?F oven (versus 20 minutes per pound for beef). Start checking the temperature of the meat about 30 minutes before you think it will be done. Buffalo should be cooked to an internal temperature of 125?F (the meat will continue to cook as it stands, reaching about 135?F for medium-rare buffalo).
 
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Source: http://www.journal-advocate.com/ste...rado-health-officials-issue-warning-tularemia

Northeast Colorado health officials issue warning on tularemia
Human case diagnosed in Morgan County
By Deanna Herbert
Posted: 07/06/2015 07:40:00 PM MDT

The Northeast Colorado Health Department learned late last week that a Morgan County resident has tested positive for tularemia. While this is a relatively rare disease, Colorado is seeing the highest transmission in recent history as this marks the 16th case of tularemia in Colorado since May, 2015; prompting local health officials to increase awareness and education regarding precautions...
 
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