A Boulder County resident, outside Lafayette City limits, tested positive for tularemia after mowing their lawn and gardening and subsequently developed symptoms of high fever, headache, and general malaise. The resident did not survive, due to other medical complications.
People become infected with tularemia through skin contact with infected animal tissue or through the bite of infected insects, most commonly ticks and deer flies. The bacteria can also be inhaled when infected animal tissue is broken up into small particles and spread in the air, such as when an infected carcass is mowed over.
While tularemia is relatively rare, the Boulder County Public Health Department is asking county residents to be aware and take appropriate precautions. Follow the link below for additional detailed information from Boulder County Public Health.