Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Tularemia

Signs and Symptoms Ulceroglandular tularemia presents a local ulcer and regional lymphadenopathy (any disease process affecting a lymph node or lymph nodes), fever, chills, headache, and malaise. Typhoidal or septicemic tularemia presents fever, headache, malaise, substernal discomfort, prostration, weight loss and a non-productive cough. 

Diagnosis Clinical diagnosis. Physical findings are usually non-specific. Chest X-ray may reveal a pneumonic process, mediastinal lymphadenopathy or plural effusion. Routine culture is possible but difficult. The diagnosis can be established retrospectively by serology. As for treatment, administration of antibiotics such as streptomycin or gentamicin with early treatment can be very effective. 

Persistency Not very stable (but can last for months in moist soil or other media). 

Personal Protection Protective clothing must be used as well as protection for the respiratory tract by using a mask with biological filters, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with positive pressure, at least until you know the specific threat(s). 

Routes of Entry to the Body Inhalation, mouth, and skin. 

---

Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Tularemia... 

---