A fourth case of tularemia, commonly known as "rabbit fever," has been detected on Long Island, health officials in New York said Thursday. Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, confirmed the latest case to ABC News in a statement.
Tularemia is a rare, potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is commonly spread through tick bites and deer fly bites. It primarily affects wildlife such as rabbits, hares, and rodents, which can transmit the bacteria to humans through insect vectors.
The illness does not spread from person to person. County health officials identified a tick bite as the source for one of the four local infections but have not disclosed how the other patients were exposed. One of the earlier cases involved a 9-year-old child who fell ill after being bitten by a tick.
Suffolk County has documented an increasing number of tularemia cases in recent years. The department reported three cases in 2023, four cases in 2024, and six cases in 2025, according to Pigott. The latest confirmation brings the 2026 count to at least four cases as of August 6.
The disease can cause serious illness if left untreated. Health officials have urged the public to stay aware and take precautions to avoid tick and deer fly bites, particularly in areas where the bacteria may be present in wildlife populations.
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