Suffolk County Reports Three Cases of Tularemia, 'Rabbit Fever' Alert Issued
WHO:
ABC7 New York - Tracey Detmer, mother of a 9-year-old boy named John who has tularemia.
Newsday - Dr. Sharon Nachman, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.
Newsday - Suffolk County Department of Health.
WHAT:
ABC7 New York - The Suffolk County Department of Health reported that confirmation of a tularemia diagnosis may take several weeks due to the need for laboratory testing and specific clinical or epidemiologic criteria.
Newsday - Tracey Detmer stated that her son John is still experiencing low stamina and energy levels, with ongoing pain in his legs and neck.
Newsday - The health department conducted a tick sweep in the Detmer's yard after John's diagnosis.
Newsday - In 2024, there were four reported cases of tularemia in Suffolk County, three in 2023, and one in 2022.
ABC7 New York - Three probable cases of tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, reported in Suffolk County.
Newsday - Symptoms of tularemia include high fever, swelling of lymph nodes, and sores at the bite site.
Newsday - John Detmer was diagnosed with tularemia on May 20 after suffering from severe symptoms including a 10-day fever and swollen lymph glands.
Newsday - The number of tularemia cases in the U.S. has ranged between 150 and 200 annually.
WHERE:
ABC7 New York - Suffolk County, Long Island.
Newsday - Riverhead, Suffolk County, where the Detmer family resides.
WHEN:
ABC7 New York - John Detmer suffered effects of tularemia since April 28.
Newsday - Tracey Detmer removed the tick from John's head on April 23.
Newsday - John was diagnosed with tularemia on May 20.
WHY:
ABC7 New York - Tularemia can be transmitted to humans by ticks and flies from sick wild rabbits.
Newsday - The increase in tularemia cases may be linked to a particularly bad tick season in Suffolk County.
HOW:
NY Post - The CDC recommends using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals, and avoiding mowing over dead animals to prevent tularemia.
ABC7 New York - Confirmation of tularemia diagnosis requires laboratory testing and specific clinical or epidemiologic criteria.
Newsday - Tularemia can be contracted through bites from infected ticks or flies, contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water, or inhaling contaminated dust.
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 22:16 UTC)
The Suffolk County Department of Health has announced that confirming a tularemia diagnosis may take several weeks due to the necessary laboratory testing and specific clinical criteria. Tracey Detmer shared that her son John continues to struggle with low stamina and energy levels, along with ongoing pain in his legs and neck, prompting the health department to conduct a tick sweep in their yard following his diagnosis. To help prevent tularemia, the CDC advises using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals, and avoiding mowing over deceased animals.
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(UPDATED August 1, 2026 10:29 UTC)
In Suffolk County, Long Island, three probable cases of tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, have been reported, including a diagnosis involving a 9-year-old boy named John Detmer, who has been suffering from severe symptoms since late April. John was diagnosed with the illness on May 20 after experiencing a 10-day fever and swollen lymph glands, following a tick removal from his head just days earlier. Health officials indicate that tularemia can be transmitted to humans through bites from infected ticks and flies, and the rise in cases may be tied to a particularly bad tick season in the area.