Pneumonic Tularemia on Martha's Vineyard

Abstract

IN the United States tularemia occurs in both sporadic and epidemic forms.1 2 3 Although ulceroglandular tularemia is readily diagnosed, pneumonic tularemia is difficult to detect in the absence of a typical ulceroglandular lesion or a clear history of exposure. An outbreak of pneumonic tularemia on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, has suggested that the island is an important focus of infection.The Case ClusterThe outbreak occurred at a vacation cottage in a largely rural area, where seven persons stayed together during the week of July 30 to August 6, 1978. The cottage shares its well with one other cottage, whose residents were . . .