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CASPER (AP) — Five and a half weeks of hell.

That’s how Linda Schwope of Cowley described her husband’s battle with tularemia, a bacterial disease spread to humans by rodents and rabbits, as well as ticks and deer flies.

Michael Schwope, 74, died Aug. 16 after a 39-day struggle with the disease. Experts believe he may be the first person in Wyoming to die from tularemia this year.

The wildlife disease occurs almost every year in Wyoming, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. However, there appears to be more cases in Wyoming this year, in part due to booming cottontail rabbit populations.

Officials have confirmed 11 people, including Schwope, have been infected with tularemia in 2015.

“This is a lot for one year in Wyoming,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Murphy.

He said deaths from tularemia are uncommon.

The Wyoming Department of Health has received several reports of dead rodents and rabbits seen around state, some of which have tested positive for tularemia, Murphy told the Casper Star-Tribune.

“More dead animals around the state means an increased possibility that people will be exposed to it,” he added.

According to the Department of Health, people typically become infected through the bites of ticks and deer flies, but may contract the illness by handling diseased animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by inhaling infected dust. Dogs and cats can also contract tularemia by eating infected animals, drinking contaminated water or through tick and deer fly bites.

Symptoms vary. Some people may have a swollen bug bite, while others may have more serious symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia, a blood infection or a central nervous system infection.

Tularemia is treatable with antibiotics.

The Game and Fish department suggested residents avoid feeding wildlife and not allow pets to hunt or eat wild rodents or rabbits, since pets can transmit the disease to people. People should also avoid handling sick or dead animals. If someone must move a carcass, he or she should place it in a garbage bag using a long-handled shovel.

People should also avoid ticks in heavily wooded areas by wearing long clothing and wearing insect repellent with DEET.

Tularemia is active during warm weather, but should die off after a hard frost, Game and Fish officials reported.

Schwope said she isn’t sure how her husband contracted the disease. He was an avid hunter and also bailed hay on their farm. The couple has a dog that could have been exposed to it.

The day her husband fell sick, he entered a trance-like state that he seldom escaped during his battle with the disease, she said. He didn’t understand what people said to him, and didn’t recognize his friends or family.

The only things he could say during his admittance to Billings Clinic on July 9 were his name and date of birth.

“It was pretty traumatic,” Schwope said.

The doctors originally believed he’d had a stroke. After ruling that out, they believed he had bacterial meningitis. Eventually, a test came back positive for tularemia. His fever soared to nearly 105 degrees, as nurses tried to cool him down with ice packs, cold blankets and wet towels.

Mike Schwope was known for his sense of humor and for being a hard worker during his career as a University Extension Agent, his wife said.