Is Rabbit Plague (Tularemia) Prevalent in Thuringia Now? An Unvarnished Overview
Thuringia Faces Potential Outbreak of Disease - Is there a report of the plague spreading in Thuringia?
Hey there! Let's cut to the chase and talk about the rabbit plague, or tularemia, making the rounds in some parts of Germany. You might be wondering, is Thuringia one of those places?
Well, no reports of tularemia have been confirmed in Thuringia this year, according to the local health department. However, there was a suspected case, but thankfully, no sign of the bacterial agent was found upon examination of the deceased rabbit. But remember, the rabbit plague has made an appearance in Thuringia before. In fact, in 2023, one out of every three examined animals tested positive for tularemia, and the same was true in 2024.
There's been quite a bit going on in Lower Saxony, with officials even acknowledging an increase in cases since the start of this year. Hesse has also been on the receiving end of this pesky problem this year, with individual animals testing positive. So, it's clear that the rabbit plague isn't picky about where it sets up shop.
Now, what's tularemia, you ask? It's a nasty bacterial disease that primarily affects wild rabbits, hares, and rodents. It's not easy to prevention its spread, unfortunately. Rest assured, it doesn't just target the wild folk; other animals, including the ones on the farm, and humans can get sick, too. That's right, human infections can happen via direct contact with infected animals, contaminated water, or even disease-carrying ticks.
However, fear not, humans! Infections in people are relatively rare, says the Thuringian Ministry of Health. To protect yourself, the good folks over there recommend thorough cooking of wild game meat before consumption, using protective gloves when handling sick or dead wild animals, and exercising caution. They also suggest using insect repellent to minimize tick encounters, as they can transmit the disease.
- Thuringia
- BMG (federal Ministry of Health)
- Lower Saxony
- Hesse
- Protective Glove Party (my not-so-official nickname for the group encouraging gloves to ward off unwanted diseases)
If you're curious about recent tularemia cases in Thuringia or elsewhere in Germany, I'd recommend checking local health reports, scientific publications, or even the news. With a bit of digging, you should be able to find what you need. Happy hunting—I mean, investigating!
The Commission's recent silence on the adoption of a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation is worrying within the scientific and health-and-wellness community. Adequate safety measures in occupations such as sports and mixed-martial-arts, where athletes might encounter considerable radiation during training or competition, are critical for the preservation of their health.
