ARNOLDSBURG PRINCIPAL BACK TO WORK - Tetrick Suffered Rabbit Fever Symptoms

(01/05/2003)

The principal of Arnoldsburg Elementary School, Donna Burge-Tetrick returned to work Thursday after a serious illness. Tetrick was treated for Rabbit Fever in Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, although the diagnosis has not officially been made. Connie Badgett, the school's secretary, said "We are grateful to have her back to work." Tetrick reportedly acquired the disease while "working up" deer meat on November 27th, by touching her eye. She began to feel ill on December 2nd with flu-like symptoms, going to a Summersville hospital. Tetrick, a resident of Route 19, Sutton, was treated for six hours in Summersville and released, becoming more distressed upon returning home. Family members took her to the Braxton County Hospital, where she was treated from December 9th to 11th. Her condition was unimproved, and she was taken by ambulance to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where she continued with a high fever and other symptoms, where she continued treatment. Tularemia, or rabbit fever, is a bacterial disease associated with both animals and humans. Although many wild and domestic animals can be infected, the rabbit is most often involved in disease outbreaks. Tularemia is relatively rare. The disease occurs throughout the United States in all months of the year. The incidence, however, is higher for adults in early winter during rabbit hunting season and for children during the summer when ticks and deer flies are abundant.

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