tularemia

noun

tu·​la·​re·​mia ˌtü-lə-ˈrē-mē-ə 

ˌtyü-

: an infectious disease especially of wild rabbits, rodents, some domestic animals, and humans that is caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis), is transmitted especially by the bites of insects, and in humans is marked by symptoms (such as fever) of toxemia

called also rabbit fever

tularemic

ˌtü-lə-ˈrē-mik 

ˌtyü-

adjective

Examples of tularemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ticks, for instance, can transmit infections that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and tularemia. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

In addition to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ticks carry other diseases including Lyme disease and tularemia. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023

That experiment failed, as did others involving anthrax and tularemia. —Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022

There are signs in the new study and others that climate change is causing Alaska polar bears to become increasingly at risk of tularemia. —Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Tulare County, California

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tularemia

noun

tu·​la·​re·​mia ˌt(y)ü-lə-ˈrē-mē-ə 

: a disease especially of rodents, wild rabbits, human beings, and some domestic animals that is caused by a bacterium and passed on by the bites of insects or ticks

Medical Definition

tularemia

noun

tu·​la·​re·​mia

variants or chiefly British tularaemia

ˌt(y)ü-lə-ˈrē-mē-ə 

: an infectious disease especially of wild rabbits, rodents, some domestic animals, and humans that is caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis), is transmitted especially by the bites of insects, and in humans is marked by symptoms (as fever) of toxemia

called also rabbit fever

tularemic adjective

or chiefly British tularaemic

-mik