Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Böhm, Stefanie
• vom Berge, Katharina
• Hierhammer, Daniela
• Jacob, Daniela
• Grunow, Roland
• Riehm, Julia M.
• Konrad, Regina
• Dauer, Marc
• Bouschery, Berit
• Hossain, Hamid
• Schichtl, Elisabeth
• Böhmer, Merle M.

Titel

Epidemiological investigation of a tularaemia outbreak after a hare hunt in Bavaria, Germany, 2018

Ist Teil von

• Zoonoses and public health, 2022-03, Vol.69 (2), p.106-116

Ort / Verlag

Germany: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Summary In November 2018, a tularaemia outbreak occurred in Bavaria, Germany, among participants of a hare hunt and butchery employees handling the hares. We conducted an epidemiological outbreak investigation, including a retrospective cohort study among hunting participants, to identify likely transmission routes and activities associated with infection. Twelve of 41 participants were antibody‐positive for Francisella (F.) tularensis (attack rate: 29%). Cases reported influenza‐like symptoms (n = 11), lymphadenopathy (n = 1) and conjunctivitis (n = 1). Infection only occurred in those hunting participants present while hares were processed, while risk of infection was highest when directly involved (RR = 10.0; 95%CI: 2.6–392). F. tularensis was isolated from 1/4 hares. Only two individuals reported using some of the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Occurrence of mainly non‐specific symptoms, likely due to early treatment, was not indicative of a specific transmission route. Transmissions via direct (skin/mucosa) contact and by inhalation of contaminated aerosols seem plausible. Promoting and increasing appropriate use of PPE among people processing hares is crucial to prevent future outbreaks.