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Tularemia


Tularemia in Washington State
Tularemia is an endemic zoonosis in Washington where 1 to 10 tularemia infections are reported annually. Potential sources of infection reported by Washington residents with tularemia include insect and animal bites, contaminated water, and aerosol exposure while farming or using power landscape tools such as lawn mowers and weed eaters. Epidemiological data from human cases with endemic exposures indicates that tularemia is most commonly acquired in western Washington. The majority of F. tularensis isolates in Washington are type B.

A statewide serosurvey of more than 360 outdoor pet cats and dogs in Washington during 2004–2005 indicated that 0.6% were exposed to tularemia. The incidence was highest in dogs and cats tested in southwest Washington (4.5%).

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To assist in diagnosis.

  • When the source is a risk for only a few individuals (e.g., animal exposure), to inform those individuals how they can reduce their risk of exposure.

  • To educate potentially exposed persons, including laboratory personnel, about signs and symptoms of disease, thereby facilitating early diagnosis.

  • To determine the endemicity and epidemiology of the disease in Washington state.

  • To raise the index of suspicion of a possible bioterrorism event if no natural exposure source is identified.

Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 work days
  • Hospitals: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 work days
  • Laboratories: specimen submission required
  • Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.  If bioterrorism is suspected, case must be immediately reported to DOH: 1-877-539-4344

Last update
Dec. 2007

Tularemia Resources

General Information

Fact Sheet
(Web format)
Tularemia
Incidence Rates

(PDF format)

Reporting Forms

Tularemia
Reporting Form

(Word Format)
Tularemia
Reporting Form

(PDF Format)

Public Health and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(PDF format)

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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Consultation and technical assistance are available to local health jurisdictions in Washington State:
Phone (206) 418-5500

FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (inside Washington State only)  1-877-539-4344

Washington residents can contact their local health jurisdictions for assistance


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