Home / Health / Man Contracts Rare Fever After Deer Collision
Man Contracts Rare Fever After Deer Collision
29 Aug
Summary
- A deer crashed through a car windshield, exposing a man to its bodily fluids.
- The man developed a rare bacterial infection, tularemia, from the exposure.
- He recovered after antibiotic treatment, but the case highlights wildlife risks.
A car accident in Germany resulted in a rare bacterial infection for a 39-year-old man. The incident occurred when a roe deer, hit by another vehicle, was thrown through the man's windshield. He sustained cuts from the broken glass and impact with the animal.
His wounds were then exposed to the deer's blood, fluids, and soil, leading to a serious infection. Approximately a week later, he experienced fever, a skin lesion, and swollen lymph nodes. This indicated a severe bacterial illness that worsened despite initial antibiotic treatment.
About a month post-accident, scans revealed large abscesses on his face, necessitating surgical drainage. Laboratory tests identified Francisella tularensis, the bacterium causing tularemia, also known as rabbit fever.
Doctors believe the deer was infected, transmitting the bacteria through its fluids to the man's open wounds. While tularemia can be fatal, the man responded well to a different antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. Three months later, he had largely recovered, with only minor discomfort remaining.
