A wild hare found in Svendborg has tested positive for tularemia, known in Danish as harepest. It is the first confirmed case of the disease in a wild hare on the island of Funen.
DR reported on September 14, 2026 that the bacterial disease has now been detected on Funen for the first time. The finding was published by Dansk Veterinær Konsortium on its website.
The animal was found earlier this month in Svendborg on South Funen. It was suffering convulsions and was subsequently euthanized. Later testing confirmed tularemia.
Harepest is caused by a bacterium and mainly affects hares and rodents, according to DR. The bacterium can also infect humans.
Dansk Veterinær Konsortium states that sick hares appear lethargic and weak. They move slowly and lose their natural flight response.
Previously recorded in Jutland and Zealand
The disease had already been documented in both Jutland and Zealand before the Funen case. DR has previously reported that harepest was confirmed in a dead hare in Copenhagen. The new detection shows that the bacterium is also present on Funen.
Dansk Veterinær Konsortium has issued guidance on how to reduce the risk of infection. It advises against direct contact with sick or dead hares. If an animal must be handled, gloves should be used, followed by thorough handwashing.
The consortium also recommends protection against tick bites and mosquito bites during stays in nature. It further advises against drinking untreated water from lakes, streams and other natural water sources.
According to the consortium, persistent fever and swollen lymph nodes can be signs of infection in people. Anyone developing such symptoms after contact with a sick or dead hare, whether while hunting or otherwise, should contact their own doctor. The possible exposure to tularemia should be mentioned to the doctor.
Dead hares are described as important for disease surveillance. Animals found dead can be handed in to the fallen wildlife monitoring program, known as faldvildtovervågning. The program tracks diseases and causes of death among wild animals in Denmark.
Through that monitoring, authorities can follow how tularemia develops in hares and in other wild animals. Reporting from DR does not indicate any further confirmed cases on Funen at this stage.
