Easter I

A rash of rampaging rabbits ravage Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and you are sent to investigate an outbreak of disease among laboratory workers, farmers, veterinarians, hunters, landscapers, and meat handlers. Most have abrupt onset fever, chills, anorexia, and/or malaise. Some have headache, fatigue, chest soreness, myalgias, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. For some, the fever abates and then returns.

Some patients have skin lesions like the one above. Others don't have skin manifestations but have regional lymphadenopathy. A small percentage have eye pain, photophobia, tearing, and conjunctival erythema and edema. A few have sore throat, exudative pharyngitis, and tonsillitis.

Challenge: What's the culprit?

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