Answers about tularemia

How did the researchers get it? It's not yet clear. The scientists, however, thought they were working with a weakened strain of the bacteria but it turned out to be contaminated with a highly infectious strain. Also, lab workers did not follow proper procedures to protect themselves.

Can I get it? Tularemia is not known to be spread from person to person. Most people get it from being bitten by an infected tick, deerfly, or other insect; handling infected animal carcasses; eating or drinking contaminated food or water; or breathing in the bacteria.

Symptoms could include: Sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, progressive weakness.

Treatment The disease can be fatal if it is not treated with the right antibiotics. With treatment, death rates are less than 1 percent. Without treatment, the death rate may reach 30 percent.

How common is it? From 1990 to 2000, 1,368 tularemia cases -- an average 124 annually -- were reported from 44 states.

SOURCES: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health