Tularemia--Oklahoma, 2000

In June 2000, seven cases of tularemia were reported to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) over an 18-day period. Enhanced tularemia surveillance by OSDH during July-September 2000 detected four additional cases. During 1995-1999, an average of six cases were reported each year. This report summarizes clinical and epidemiologic information from the investigation of the 11 cases, presents three case reports to illustrate different risk factors for tularemia, and underscores the danger of delayed diagnosis of tularemia and the risk for acquiring tularemia in laboratory settings. Physicians should consider tularemia in ill persons with fever who reside in or visit areas where the disease is endemic and who have been exposed to ticks or carcasses or tissue from rabbits or other animals.