Friday, 7 August 2026, 0:00
Health officials have confirmed a fourth case of tularemia in Suffolk County, New York, this year. The rare bacterial infection, commonly called rabbit fever, has prompted fresh warnings about tick exposure on Long Island.
Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County health commissioner, confirmed the fourth case on Thursday, according to CBS News New York. The county health department said earlier that it was investigating four cases of tularemia this year.
While tularemia remains uncommon, Suffolk County has seen multiple cases in recent years. Pigott said the county recorded six cases in 2025, four in 2024, and three in 2023.
Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It spreads through ticks and can infect small animals, especially rabbits. People can catch the disease by handling infected dead animals while doing outdoor chores or hunting, and direct tick bites can also transmit it.
Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist at North Shore Hospital, said symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, high fever, and a pneumonia-type illness. He noted that rabbit fever is highly treatable, but patients can stay sick unless a doctor knows to test for it specifically.
"Rabbit fever is really unusual," Hirsch said. "I've been in infectious disease for a long period of time, and I see this diagnosis regularly on board examinations, not in the real world."
Tularemia gets its name from Tulare County, California, where the disease was first described in 1911. The connection is a reminder that the infection has deep roots in the United States, though cases today are rare.
Health experts say Long Islanders should be aware of tularemia but not overly worried because it is rare. Hirsch warned that the growing tick population poses a broader health threat. This year's fourth case reinforces the need for tick precautions throughout the region.
