Evaluation of Tularemia cases in Ankara province, Turkey.

Tularemia; caused by Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic disease which can be seen endemic in the northern hemisphere. The distribution of tularemia cases according to years and the characteristics of the disease in Ankara province were evaluated in this descriptive study. The number of tularemia cases according to years in Ankara were as follows: 129 cases in 2010, 349 in 2011, 87 in 2012, 2 in 2013, 0 in 2014, 23 in 2015, 86 in 2016, 16 in 2017 and 4 in 2018. 52.3% of cases seen in the years 2010- 2018 were female (n = 364) and 47.7% (n = 332) were male and the mean age was 38.99 ± 18.82. In these cases, the use of waterwork was 66.7%, the use of public fountains was 40.3%, the use of well water was 7.0%, the presence of rodents around was 25.6%. To control tularemia, well water, spring water and fountains outside the grid system must be controlled; used water tanks must be maintained and cleaned at regular intervals. It is important that the water against microbiological contamination are chlorinated by automatic devices and the residual chlorine measurements are made without interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]