By STACY LIBERATORE DEPUTY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 21:30 BST, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 21:31 BST, 16 August 2026
A disease believed by some researchers to be the mysterious plague described in the Bible has surfaced in New York.
Health officials have identified four cases of tularemia, also known as 'rabbit fever,' in Suffolk County, Long Island, while 64 infections have been reported nationwide this year.
Rabbit fever is a potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can be transmitted through tick and deer fly bites, contact with infected animals, inhalation of contaminated dust or drinking contaminated water.
The rare infection causes sudden flu-like symptoms, including high fever, chills and extreme fatigue, along with painfully swollen lymph nodes and sores near the point where the bacteria entered the body.
In severe cases, the bacteria can invade the lungs and cause pneumonia, breathing difficulties and potentially fatal complications if treatment is delayed.
The New York State Department of Health warned that people can become infected while mowing lawns or landscaping if equipment disturbs contaminated animal remains and sends bacteria into the air.
Officials advised residents to check their yards for animal carcasses and wildlife nests before mowing and to consider wearing a mask during landscaping work.
Dr Andrew Handel, a New York-based board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist, told the Daily Mail: 'If you inhale tularemia, it goes into your lungs and causes severe pneumonia, and again, that can make you critically, critically ill.'
The rare infection causes sudden flu-like symptoms, including high fever, chills and extreme fatigue, along with painfully swollen lymph nodes and sores near the point where the bacteria entered the body
The cases have emerged in Suffolk County, which includes the Hamptons, the exclusive seaside playground known for its celebrity residents, private clubs and multimillion-dollar estates.
Handel warned that tularemia can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms vary depending on how the bacteria entered the body.
'It's a really tricky disease because it has so many different forms, and it's rare, so it's not at the top of our mind often when patients do come in,' he said.
Rabbits and rodents are frequent carriers, although infected ticks can transmit the bacteria without a person ever touching a sick animal.