Pest alarm in Lower Bavaria: Hasenpest threatens humans and animals!

Pest alarm in Lower Bavaria: Hasenpest threatens humans and animals!

The alarm bell beats in Lower Bavaria! A dangerous illness that is transferable to humans causes excitement. The district office of Straubing-Bogen has confirmed a case of HasenPest, also known as Tularemia, in a deceased brown hare in Aiterhofen. In the past few weeks, several dead field harses have already been discovered in the community, which makes the situation even more alarming.

dangerous pathogens discovered!

The culprit is the bacterium francisella tulensis that not only affects brown hare, but also wild rabbits and rodents. The symptoms in infected animals are worrying: they lose weight, look weak and lose their natural fear of people. The authorities urgently warn against touching possibly infected animals, since the disease is also transferable to humans. However, a transfer from person to person is not known.

are particularly at risk of people who have close contact with sick animals, such as hunters, chefs, butchers and veterinarians. The transmission is often done by dealing with carcasses or their excretions. The symptoms in humans resemble flu: headache and body aches, fever, chills and fatigue are just a few of the signs. In severe cases, swollen and purulent lymph nodes and pneumonia can occur. The incubation period is usually three to five days. According to the Robert Koch Institute, 19 human Tularemia infections were already registered in Bavaria in 2023, while the disease was demonstrated in field hares in 18 cases. The situation remains tense and the authorities appeal to the population to be careful.