Deadly Disease Killing Illinois Squirrels – Dangerous for Humans

There is a real reason for concern. There are multiple reports of a squirrel in Illinois dying from a contagious disease that can infect pets and be dangerous for humans, too.

I first saw this report shared by WAND News of a rare disease that has killed squirrels in Illinois. They say that the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department has confirmed a dead squirrel in Urbana perished from Tularemia which is also known as rabbit fever.

What is Tularemia or rabbit fever?

The CDC says that Tularemia is "a potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis." It can be deadly and can kill large numbers of rabbits and rodents. It's also a potentially fatal disease for pets.

What are the symptoms of Tularemia in humans and how serious is the sickness?

The CDC says that illness in humans caused by rabbit fever can vary from mild to life-threatening. Skin ulcers and irritated eyes are some of the symptoms, but the most dangerous are those that include a cough, chest pain or difficulty breathing as that means the disease is causing pneumonia.

How can you get Tularemia?

Rabbit fever can be passed along if you touch an infected animal or get bit by an infected deer or tick fly. Experts advise being careful not to mow over a dead infected animal, always using insect repellent and wearing gloves if you find a dead squirrel, rabbit or any other kind of dead animal.

The fact there is already a report in Illinois and we're not that far into Spring means this could become a more serious issue if more animals become infected.