In summer 2000 , an outbreak of tularemia in Martha 's Vineyard resulted in one dead person . It brought the interest of the CDC as a potential investigative ground for aerosolized Francisella tularensis . In the summer of 2000 , an outbreak of tularemia in Martha 's Vineyard resulted in one fatality , and brought the interest of the CDC as a potential investigative ground for aerosolized Francisella tularensis .