Tularemia case confirmed in Teno, Norway as dead hares found near border

A case of tularemia has been confirmed in Teno, Norway’s Finnmark region, according to NRK Sápmi. A deceased hare found in Skuvgis has tested positive for the disease. The municipality of Teno reported that the case was registered with Norway’s Veterinary Institute at the beginning of August. Tularemia had not been reported in Finnmark for the past decade.

On the Finnish side, dead hares have also been observed near the border, but no cases of tularemia have been confirmed in Utsjoki or Northern Lapland, as stated by the Finnish Food Authority. Local residents have discovered deceased hares along the Teno River.

Sylvi Rasmus from Dálvadak in Utsjoki noted a significant increase in the hare population this year. While she found two dead hares, one raised questions due to the large presence of gulls nearby, none of which touched the hare. Rauna Guttorm from Baadus also reported a high number of hares last year. The substantial sightings in spring led him to ponder whether a disease might decrease their numbers.

Guttorm found a dead hare this summer and initially thought it had succumbed to the heat. After posting about it on Facebook, he received advice to bury the carcass without touching it, suspecting tularemia. He later encountered another dead hare already being consumed by a hawk.

Food Authority specialist Marja Isomursu mentioned that tularemia had not been detected in Upper Lapland recently and that there have been no reports or samples from Utsjoki, Enontekiö, or Inari for years. Local veterinarians are monitoring the situation and trying to investigate any dead hares found. Tularemia, a contagious disease, can infect humans, and precautions against mosquito bites are recommended.