Current:Home > FinanceA disease killing beavers in Utah can also affect humans, authorities say-LoTradeCoin
A disease killing beavers in Utah can also affect humans, authorities say
View Date:2024-12-23 15:25:09
Nine beavers have been found dead over the last few weeks across multiple counties in Utah, and three have tested positive for a disease that state wildlife officials say can also affect humans.
The disease, called tularemia, is a disease that can infect both animals and people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabbits, hares and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks, the CDC says.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is asking the public to take caution by not touching the animals and to report any dead beavers to DWR officials.
"The bacteria that causes this infection is known to be in the environment in many parts of Utah; however, it is unusual to see this many animals die from it at once," DWR veterinarian Ginger Stout said in a news release.
According to the DWR, the last confirmed case of tularemia killing wildlife in Utah was in 2017 with a cottontail rabbit in the Kanab area.
How does tularemia spread to humans?
There are several ways it can spread to humans, according to the CDC, including:
- Tick and deer fly bites
- Skin contact with infected animals
- Drinking contaminated water
- Inhaling contaminated aerosols or agricultural and landscaping dust
- Laboratory exposure
Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, can be life-threatening for people if not treated quickly, but most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics, the CDC says. Symptoms vary depending on how the person was infected.
"There is a concern about the possibility of tick-borne or fly-borne diseases, so it's advised to take the necessary precautions by wearing protective clothing, using appropriate insect repellent and checking for ticks after being in brushy areas," Stout said in the news release.
How to prevent tularemia infection
According to the CDC, you can prevent tularemia by using insect repellent, wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals and avoiding mowing over dead animals.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
veryGood! (99)
Related
- California researchers discover mysterious, gelatinous new sea slug
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $250 Crossbody Bag for Just $59 and a Free Wallet
- Plagued by Daily Blackouts, Puerto Ricans Are Calling for an Energy Revolution. Will the Biden Administration Listen?
- Feeding Cows Seaweed Reduces Their Methane Emissions, but California Farms Are a Long Way From Scaling Up the Practice
- Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
- Pete Davidson Admits His Mom Defended Him on Twitter From Burner Account
- Why zoos can't buy or sell animals
- ESPN announces layoffs as part of Disney's moves to cut costs
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responds to CeeDee Lamb's excuse about curtains at AT&T Stadium
- The 'Champagne of Beers' gets crushed in Belgium
Ranking
- Nevada trial set for ‘Dances with Wolves’ actor in newly-revived sex abuse case
- EPA Opens Civil Rights Investigation Into Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’
- Inside Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Love Story: In-N-Out Burgers and Super Sexy Photos
- Why zoos can't buy or sell animals
- Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira set to be sentenced, could get up to 17 years in prison
- Warming Trends: How Hairdressers Are Mobilizing to Counter Climate Change, Plus Polar Bears in Greenland and the ‘Sounds of the Ocean’
- Hailey Bieber Responds to Criticism She's Not Enough of a Nepo Baby
- New York’s ‘Deliveristas’ Are at the Forefront of Cities’ Sustainable Transportation Shake-up
Recommendation
-
Massive dust storm reduces visibility, causes vehicle pileup on central California highway
-
DC Young Fly Shares How He Cries All the Time Over Jacky Oh's Death
-
New Research Shows Aerosol Emissions May Have Masked Global Warming’s Supercharging of Tropical Storms
-
Biden Administration Stops Short of Electric Vehicle Mandates for Trucks
-
Kraft Heinz stops serving school-designed Lunchables because of low demand
-
As Animals Migrate Because of Climate Change, Thousands of New Viruses Will Hop From Wildlife to Humans—and Mitigation Won’t Stop Them
-
Inside Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Incredibly Private Marriage
-
Forecasters Tap High-Tech Tools as US Warns of Another Unusually Active Hurricane Season