CDC raises alarm over deadly tickborne disease claiming lives in Southern California

Tick causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Credits: Shutterstock
Tick causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Credits: Shutterstock

United States: An urgent health advisory has been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to the alarming rise of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a tickborne disease that has claimed the lives of three out of five infected individuals since July, mainly in Southern California.

This recent outbreak has prompted a critical warning from the CDC, indicating the potential for an outbreak across the United States.

All recorded cases of this disease have been identified in South California, with most individuals having recently traveled to Tecate, Baja California, within the past two weeks. Among the five cases, four patients were adults over 18 years old, three of whom were American citizens.

Tragically, all five patients sought medical care in hospitals, where three succumbed to the virus.

Visual Representation

To combat the increasing threat, the CDC urges the public to be vigilant about symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Immediate treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline is recommended upon suspicion of infection, particularly for those who have recently traveled to northern Mexico.

The CDC emphasizes the need for swift action, suggesting that treatment should commence even before test results confirm the infection.

According to CNN Health, the CDC stated, “RMSF is a severe, rapidly progressive, and often fatal disease transmitted by infected ticks, although tick bites may not be remembered by many patients.”

Experts identify brown dog ticks as carriers of this disease, prevalent in large numbers in northern Mexico, leading to its endemic nature. Cases related to Rocky Mountain spotted fever have also been reported in the southwestern United States.

It’s important to note that the disease cannot be transmitted from an infected person to another person.

Symptoms of this disease may initially appear mild, including low fever, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, swelling around the eyes and hands, and rashes. If left untreated for several days, it can progress to more severe stages, causing changes in mental state, brain swelling, organ damage, and respiratory issues.

Visual Representation | Rashes caused due to tick-borne disease

Most deaths from this disease occur approximately eight days after the onset of illness, though it remains fatal in only five to ten percent of cases.

The CDC urged immediate medical attention for individuals who have traveled to Mexico in the past two weeks and display symptoms associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Prevention methods include protecting pet dogs from ticks, using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing outdoors, routinely checking for ticks after outdoor activities, particularly around pets, and immediate tick removal if found.