In light of a recent report regarding the collection of dead rabbits from the Foundation Mobile Home Park and Edwards Air Force Base on Aug. 31, B.A. Jinadu, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public health and Health Officer of Kern County,

is advising residents and visitors in the desert and wilderness regions of the county to avoid handling sick or dead animals that may be a result of a recent wildlife die-off from flea and tick-borne diseases in the area.

Samples have been sent to the California Department of Health Services Vector-Borne Disease Section to test for possible presence of tularemia and plague. Local reports indicated that up to 50-60 rabbits, along with mice and rats, were found dead and heavily infested with ticks and fleas over the last 30 days. Tularemia and plague are both infectious disease of animals and humans. Tularemia, also known as Rabbit fever or Deerfly fever, is an infection common in wild rodents caused by the organism Francisella tularemia. Plague, also common in wild rodents, is caused by bacterium names Yersinia pestis.

Humans can contact tularemia and plague by direct contact with an infected animal or carcass via broken skin, the bite of an infected flea or tick, and ingestion of infected meat. symptoms could include red spots on the skin, enlarged lymph nodes or groin or armpits, headache, muscle pain. possible conjunctivitis, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sweating, joint stiffness, and progressive weakness. The Department of Public Health recommends the following precautions to reduce the risk of being exposed to Tularemia or plague:

-Eliminate food and shelter for rodents in and around homes or recreation areas by making building rodent-proof and by removing brush, rock-piles, junk, and food sources.

-Wear gloves when handling or skinning animals, especially rabbits.

-Check pets for fleas and ticks.

-Wear protective clothing and use licensed insecticides to kill fleas or ticks.

-Tell your children not to handle sick or dead animals.

- Kern County Health Department