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. 2023 Feb 18:3:100116.
doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100116. eCollection 2023.

Tularemia cases increase in the USA from 2011 through 2019

Alexandra Bishop  1 , Hsiao-Hsuan Wang  2 , Taylor G Donaldson  3 , Emily E Brockinton  4 , Esha Kothapalli  5 , Scott Clark  1 , Tanvi Vishwanath  6 , Tatyana Canales  7 , Krishnendu Sreekumar  8 , William E Grant  2 , Pete D Teel  3
Affiliations

Tularemia cases increase in the USA from 2011 through 2019

Alexandra Bishop et al. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. .

Abstract

Tularemia is a rare but potentially serious bacterial zoonosis, which has been reported in the 47 contiguous states of the USA during 2001-2010. This report summarizes the passive surveillance data of tularemia cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2011 through 2019. There were 1984 cases reported in the USA during this period. The average national incidence was 0.07 cases per 100,000 person-years (PY), compared to 0.04 cases per 100,000 PY during 2001-2010. The highest statewide reported case 2011-2019 was in Arkansas (374 cases, 20.4% of total), followed by Missouri (13.1%), Oklahoma (11.9%), and Kansas (11.2%). Regarding race, ethnicity, and sex, tularemia cases were reported more frequently among white, non-Hispanic, and male patients. Cases were reported in all age groups; however, individuals 65 years-old and older exhibited the highest incidence. The seasonal distribution of cases generally paralleled the seasonality of tick activity and human outdoor activity, increasing during spring through mid-summer and decreasing through late summer and fall to winter lows. Improved surveillance and education of ticks and tick- and water-borne pathogens should play a key role in efforts to decrease the incidence of tularemia in the USA.

Keywords: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Francisella tularensis; Incidence; National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS); Tularemia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of reported cases and associated incidence of tularemia in the USA from 2011 to 2019. Bars represent total number of reported cases. Dots represent incidence (number of infections per 100,000 persons per year). Based on data from the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Spatial patterns of reported cases of tularemia in the USA from 2011 to 2019 (n ​= ​1984) based on data from the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Month of report of tularemia cases in the USA from 2011 to 2019 (n ​= ​1984) based on data from the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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