Francisella tularensis is a nonmotile, aerobic, gramnegative coccobacillus [44] . There are 4 subspecies. Usually it is associated with zoonoses in rural areas [8] . In North America, type A, which is believed to be the most virulent strain, is predominant [45] . F. tularensis is highly infectious: only 10 to 50 organisms are needed to cause human disease [8] if inhaled or injected. Oral ingestion requires approximately 108 organisms that lead to disease. Human-to-human transmission has not been reported. The most likely method of deployment, therefore, would be made via aerosol, although contamination of food and water sources seem possible [8] . In a World Health Organization report from 1969, it was reported that 50 kg of aerosolized F. tularensis in an area inhabited by 5 million people would result in 19,000 deaths and 250,000 persons with severe illness [46] . F. tularensis can survive for weeks in the environment and for years in temperatures of freezing and below [10] ; however, it is easily destroyed by heat (55°C for 10 minutes) or standard disinfectant solutions, such as 10% bleach [8] .