Tularemia spreads (is transmitted) in many different ways. You can get tularemia from: Bites from ticks, mosquitos, deer flies and other biting insects. Bites from infected animals. Touching infected animals. If you touch the infected tissue or body fluids of an animal, it can get into your body through breaks in your skin. You can also get it in your eyes, nose or mouth if you touch your face after contact with F. tularensis. Drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Breathing in an aerosol (mist) that has F. tularensis in it. This can happen if a lawn mower or piece of farming equipment runs over an infected animal