Tularemia historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ilan Dock, B.S.
Overview
Franciscella tularensis was discovered in 1911 during an outburst of rabbit fever, when the disease killed a large number of ground squirrels in the area of Tulare Lake in California. Scientists determined that tularemia could be dangerous to humans: a human being may catch the infection after contacting an infected animal. The ailment soon became frequent with hunters, cooks and agricultural workers.[2]
Historical Perspective
Documented outbreaks
- In summer 2000, an outbreak of tularemia in Martha's Vineyard resulted in one fatality, and brought the interest of the CDC as a potential investigative ground for aerosolized Francisella tularensis.
- Over the following summers, Martha's Vineyard was identified as the only place in the world where documented cases of tularemia resulted from lawn mowing.[1] The research may prove valuable in preventing bioterrorism.
- An outbreak of tularemia occurred in Kosovo in 1999-2000 [3].
- In 2004, three researchers at Boston University Medical Center were accidentally infected with F. tularensis, after apparently failing to follow safety procedures.[2]
- In 2005, small amounts of F. tularensis were detected in the Mall area of Washington, DC the morning after an anti-war demonstration on September 24, 2005. Biohazard sensors were triggered at six locations surrounding the Mall. To this date, no cases of tularemia infection have been reported as a result.[3]
- In 2007, a lab of Boston University's Center for Advanced Biomedical Research, where F. tularensis were being kept for research, was evacuated after smoke set off alarms. An investigation has later determined that an electrical problem was the culprit, and no bacterial contamination was found.
- In July 2007, an outbreak was reported in the Spanish autonomous region of Castile and León and traced to the plague of voles infesting the region.
Tularemia as a biological weapon
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regard F. tularensis as a viable bioweapons agent for use by terrorists. The disease was used as a weapon by the Russians during World War II.[4] Practical research into using Tularemia as a bioweapon took place at Camp Detrick in the 1950s. It was viewed as an attractive agent because:
- it is easy to aerosolize
- it is highly infective; fewer than 10 bacteria are required to infect
- it is non-persistent and easy to decontaminate (unlike anthrax)
- it is highly incapacitating to infected persons
- it has low-lethality, which is useful where enemy soldiers are in proximity to non-combatants, eg civilians
- No vaccine is available to the general public.[4] The best way to prevent tularemia infection is to wear rubber gloves when handling or skinning rodents or lagomorphs (as rabbits), avoid ingesting uncooked wild game and untreated water sources, and wearing long-sleeved clothes and using an insect repellant to prevent tick bites.
Biological Warfare
- By the late 1950's the US biological warfare program was focused mostly on tularemia as a biological agent.
- Schu S4 strain was standardized as Agent UL for use in the M143 bursting spherical bomblet. It was a lethal biological with an anticipated fatality rate of 40 to 60 percent. The rate-of-action was around three days, with a duration-of-action of 1 to 3 weeks (treated) and 2 to 3 months (untreated) with frequent relapses. UL was streptomycin resistant.
- Aerobiological stability of UL was a major concern, being sensitive to sun light, and losing virulence over time after release.
- The United States later changed the military symbol for UL to TT (wet-type) and ZZ (dry-type) in an effort to retain security on the identity of military biologicals. When the 425 strain was standardized as agent JT (an incapacitant rather than lethal agent), the Schu S4 strain's symbol was changed again to SR.
References
- ↑ Feldman KA, Enscore R, Lathrop S, et al. Outbreak of primary pneumonic tularemia on Martha's Vineyard. N Engl J Med 2001;345:1601--6.
- ↑ Smith S (2005-03-29). "City tells BU to bolster safety of its medical labs". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ↑ Dvorak P (2005-10-2). "Health Officials Vigilant for Illness After Sensors Detect Bacteria on Mall: Agent Found as Protests Drew Thousands of Visitors". Washington Post. p. C13. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
A week after six bioterrorism sensors detected the presence of a dangerous bacterium on the Mall, health officials said there are no reports that any of the thousands of people in the nation's capital Sept. 24 have tularemia, the illness that results from exposure to the bacteria.
Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/tularemia.htm