Navarre has confirmed 11 cases of tularemia so far this year, seven of which have required hospitalization

In 2025, 11 cases of tularemia have been confirmed in Navarre, seven of which have required hospitalization. In 2024, two cases were diagnosed, and until then "it was only diagnosed sporadically (one in 2021 and one in 2023)", the Navarro Institute of Public and Labour Health reported in its epidemiological report.

He has specified that the valleys of Ultzama, Larraun and Iza have been the areas where the most cases have occurred, although they have also been detected in other parts of Navarre. In four cases the patients touched the bodies of rodents, while in four others the ticks were recently bitten.

The foral institution has explained that "the increase in cases in humans indicates the presence of tularemia in wild rodents. "By 2025, more than 60 cases have been confirmed in Spain.

Tularemia is produced by the Francisella tularensis bacteria, which infects rodents, rats, mice, landmice, wild rabbits, hares, squirrels and, to a lesser extent, other animals, such as river crabs .

Contagion and symptomatology

In humans, contagion is caused by rodents, river crabs, or tick bites or a0arthropods.

"It has not been transmitted from person to person. The infectious load is very low, so the contagion can occur as a result of small exposures. The incubation period is usually 2-5 days, but can be extended to 21 days, "explains the Navarre health organization.

There may be many symptoms, but fever and local adenopathies are common. Sometimes fever, skin or mucous ulcers, conjunctivitis, pneumonia or sepsis . Microbiological diagnosis can be done through PCR and serology of injuries or blood samples. The disease is cured with the appropriateantibiotic treatment  .

Recommendations

In view of this situation, the Institute has issued recommendations to hunters, game manipulators, fishermen, farmers, hikers, hikers andpeople who are  in rural areas, although they are addressed to all those who are occasionally exposed to the risks mentioned.

Thus, it calls for avoiding contact with dead rodents, patients, ulcers or those who do not have natural behavior, for the use of gloves and masks when the dead rodents are manipulated or removed, and for the use of protective clothing and repellent products to prevent insect or tick bites.

Other measures include avoiding unsanitary water consumption, protecting dust from rodents with gloves and masks, preventing children from touching dead animals, or using rubber gloves to skin and manipulate hares and wild rabbits.

Similarly, the foral institution has asked thatthe meat of hunting animals   be "properly cooked" at 55 degrees for at least 5 minutes and has warned that freezing meat "does not deter tularemia".