Extremely rare and 'highly contagious' possum disease is on the rise in Australia as people are warned to steer clear of the animals
- A northern Sydney woman was bitten by a ringtail possum in March this year
- She suffered swollen lymph glands, fatigue and a sore throat following the bite
- Other symptoms are fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headache and nausea
- She was diagnosed with tularaemia which is transmitted to humans from animals
There are fears a rare and highly contagious disease spread by possums could be on the rise with Australians warned to steer well clear of the animals.
A northern Sydney woman was bitten and scratched by the nocturnal marsupial in early March and suffered swollen lymph glands, fatigue and a sore throat.
She was diagnosed with tularaemia, which is a highly contagious disease but can be treated with the right antibiotics.
A woman who was bitten and scratched by a ringtail possum has been infected with tularaemia (stock)
Tularaemia can be transmitted to humans from infected animals, but not from human-to-human.
Other symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headache and nausea, which appear within two weeks of being exposed to the bacteria.
Those exposed through bites and scratches can develop an ulcer at the wound.
NSW Health has issued a warning to Australians requesting they stop handling possums.
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'The best way to prevent tularaemia is to avoid touching or handling any wildlife,' NSW Health's Acting Director of Communicable Diseases, Keira Glasgow said.
'If you see sick or injured wildlife, do not pick it up or try to rescue it. Instead, contact the experts at your local licensed wildlife care group or local veterinarian.'
Only two other people have contracted tularaemia after being bitten or scratched by possums in Tasmania in 2011.
Tularaemia can also be found in rabbits, hares, rodents and wildlife.
NSW Health has issued a warning to Australians requesting they stop handling possums (stock)
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