Transmission to humans occurs by contact or smear infection, e.g. when hunters dismember an infected hare.
However, ticks are also possible vectors: they play an important role in the transmission of the bacteria within wild animals, but also in the spread to other regions. Thus, for a long time, tularemia occurred only in eastern Austria, but for the last few years its occurrence in brown hares has also been detected in western Austria: Probably, the bacteria have been shipped there via ticks from eastern Austria or Germany and Switzerland.
As a result of climate change, ticks have spread. The altitude limit of 1,000 meters above sea level has not existed for a long time. Individual sites are higher than 1,500 meters above sea level. If the temperature and humidity are right, ticks can be active all year round.
