New York Reports Fourth Case of Rare 'Rabbit Fever' Outbreak
WHO:
6abc Philadelphia - Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS)
6abc Philadelphia - Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
FOX Weather - A 9-year-old child who fell ill after being bitten by a tick
WHAT:
6abc Philadelphia - The latest case of tularemia was confirmed by health officials in Suffolk County, New York.
FOX Weather - County health officials have tracked a small number of cases annually, with fewer than 200 cases reported from 2019 through 2023.
6abc Philadelphia - A fourth case of tularemia has been confirmed in Suffolk County, New York.
FOX Weather - County health officials identified a tick bite as the source for one of the four local infections.
FOX Weather - The child who fell ill suffered from swollen lymph nodes and a fever that lasted about 11 days.
6abc Philadelphia - A fourth case of tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," has been detected on Long Island.
FOX Weather - Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis and is highly infectious.
FOX Weather - Symptoms of tularemia can include a high fever of up to 104 degrees, skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, and severe lung infections.
6abc Philadelphia - The SCDHS reported three cases in 2023, four in 2024, and six in 2025.
FOX Weather - Approximately 200 to 300 cases of tularemia are reported annually in the U.S.
WHERE:
6abc Philadelphia - Long Island, New York
FOX Weather - Suffolk County, New York
WHEN:
6abc Philadelphia - Tularemia is more common from May through September.
FOX Weather - The child suffered from symptoms for about 11 days.
WHY:
6abc Philadelphia - Tularemia is commonly spread through tick bites and deer flies that have fed on infected animals.
FOX Weather - The illness does not spread from person to person.
HOW:
6abc Philadelphia - The CDC stated that a vaccine for tularemia was previously available for laboratory workers but is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration and is not generally available in the U.S.
6abc Philadelphia - Tularemia is highly treatable with commonly used antibiotics, according to Dr. Zoe Weiss.
6abc Philadelphia - Tularemia can be contracted by handling infected animal tissue, inhaling contaminated dust, or drinking contaminated water.
FOX Weather - Prevention methods include using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and removing ticks immediately if attached.
(UPDATED August 7, 2026 16:46 UTC)
Health officials in Suffolk County, New York, have confirmed a new case of tularemia, adding to a small number of cases tracked annually in the area. From 2019 through 2023, fewer than 200 cases of this disease were reported. The CDC noted that while a vaccine for tularemia was once available for laboratory workers, it is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration and is not generally accessible in the U.S.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 10:48 UTC)
A fourth case of tularemia has been confirmed in Suffolk County, New York, with health officials identifying a tick bite as the source of one of the local infections. The child who fell ill experienced swollen lymph nodes and a fever that lasted about 11 days. Fortunately, tularemia is highly treatable with commonly used antibiotics, according to Dr. Zoe Weiss.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 03:59 UTC)
A fourth case of tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," has been detected on Long Island, with a 9-year-old child recently falling ill after being bitten by a tick. This highly infectious disease is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis and can lead to severe symptoms such as high fever, skin ulcers, and lung infections. Tularemia is primarily spread through tick bites and deer flies that have fed on infected animals, and it is more common from May through September, making prevention measures like using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing essential.