Vaccination against tularemia - a way to protect yourself from an infectious disease

Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, found in the natural zone of Asia, Europe and, unfortunately, in Russia as well. This bacterium persists for a long time in water, soil, grain, skins and milk of infected animals. When boiling milk for two minutes and cooking meat, the tularemia pathogen dies.

The carriers of the disease are mites, rodents (mice, rabbits, muskrats, etc.) and domestic animals (cows, pigs, sheep, etc.). A person becomes infected with tularemia when:

- bites of sick animals;

- bites of ticks;

- eating thermally underprocessed meat of diseased animals;

- in contact with dust containing pathogens (eg when working with skins of sick animals).

Vaccination, i.e. Inoculation against tularemia is necessary for those people who live in areas with an increased risk of contracting this disease, and those who often come into contact with animals, their meat and skins. It causes the human immune system to produce antibodies that recognize the pathogen and neutralize it, without giving the chance to develop the disease.

The vaccination against tularemia consists of dried Francisella tularensis bacteria that are applied to the skin or injected subcutaneously using a syringe. After a few days after the vaccination, swelling and redness should appear. This is normal and indicates that the immune system is involved in the work. If there is no reaction to the vaccine, the vaccine should be repeated after a month from tularemia.

Approximately one month after vaccination, immunity develops. Then you can say that you will not encounter such an unpleasant disease as tularemia. The vaccination will protect the human body for 5 years. Upon their expiry, if necessary, it will have to be repeated.

The manifestation of the disease depends on the mode of infection, but the symptoms in any form are similar: body temperature up to 39 ^о С, which lasts about 2 weeks, headache and muscle pain, weakness, skin rash, nausea and vomiting.

If you suspect a disease, you need to contact an infectious disease doctor who will prescribe the test: blood count for leukocytes and ESR, antibodies, allergy test with tularin. To diagnose tularemia it is possible only laboratory. In some cases, it is recommended to do a chest x-ray and ultrasound of the spleen and liver.

Treatment of tularemia is carried out with antibiotics, since the causative agents of the disease are bacteria. The dose of medicines is prescribed by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease. If the skin has ulcers, you will need compresses with antiseptics and wound healing ointments. If the lymph nodes are greatly enlarged, it may be necessary to dissect them with purging from the pus.

Tularemia is not transmitted from one person to another. Depending on the mode of infection, the incubation period changes, which can be from 7 to 21 days. If a person has recovered from this disease, he has lifelong immunity.

If vaccination against tularemia is not done, then certain measures must be taken. Protect from rodents and tick bites during picnics and fishing. Use repellents. Do not drink water from unknown sources. After walking through the forest to inspect the entire body for the presence of ticks, which can carry other dangerous diseases.