First human case of rare rodent, insect-carried disease reported in Jefferson County Posted on July 16, 2024 by Connor Johnson FOX 31 July 4, 2024 A rare disease associated with rodents, ticks and deerflies has been confirmed in a Wheat Ridge resident. Jefferson County Public Health said the resident had tularemia — this is the first positive human case in Jefferson County in 2024. Tularemia is a bacterial disease also known as “rabbit fever.” It can be transmitted to humans through infected insects, animals, contaminated food or water or airborne bacteria. Read Article