An Outbreak of Primary Pneumonic Tularemia on Martha's Vineyard

Abstract

Study of this outbreak of primary pneumonic tularemia implicates lawn mowing and brush cutting as risk factors for this infection.

Identification of Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis A1 and A2 infections by real-time polymerase chain reaction

“…tularensis are rare. On Martha's Vineyard, cases caused by this subspecies have been reported between 2000 and 2006, with only two recognized outbreaks occurring in the last 22 years (1978 and 2000) (Feldman et al, 2001(Feldman et al, , 2003Matyas et al, 2007).…”

Inactivation ofFrancisella tularensisSchu S4 in a Biological Safety Cabinet Using Hydrogen Peroxide Fumigation

“…influence the duration that F. tularensis can remain viable, which can last for weeks or months (Anda et al, 2001;Feldman et al, 2001;Abd et al, 2003;Feldman, 2003). The persistence of F. tularensis necessitates effective decontamination technologies and applications since only a few viable organisms are sufficient to cause potential infection (Saslaw & Carlisle, 1969).…”

Tularemia: emergence/re-emergence

“…Pneumonic tularemia, the most severe form of disease, occurs by direct inhalation of the organism, or may develop secondarily by septicemic spread of infection from a primary site of infection. Historically, farming, and more recently landscaping, have been significant occupational risk-factors associated with pneumonic tularemia in certain endemic areas [26,63]. Typhoidal tularemia is used to describe a systemic disease with fever and other constitutional signs in the absence of lymphadenitis, cutaneous lesions, or primary pulmonary involvement.…”