CDC issues warning as Rocky Mountain spotted fever outbreak claims three lives
An alarming outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever has resulted in five illnesses, including three fatalities, in the US since July, according to a warning issued by the CDC Stay informed with CNN Health's weekly newsletter
Since July, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about an outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which has led to five cases of illness, including three fatalities. The cases were found in Southern California and involved individuals who had recently visited Tecate, Baja California. Of the five cases, four were minors and three were US residents. All individuals were hospitalized and unfortunately, three of them passed away.
Health care providers are being urged by the CDC to consider administering the antibiotic doxycycline immediately to patients showing symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever who have recently visited northern Mexico. This proactive approach is recommended rather than waiting for test results to confirm the diagnosis. According to the agency, RMSF is a serious and potentially fatal disease that is spread by ticks and is prevalent in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern US. The disease is commonly transmitted by brown dog ticks and does not spread from person to person. Many patients may not even recall being bitten by a tick.
Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter
Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.
Early signs of infection may include mild symptoms such as low fever, headache, stomach problems, abdominal pain, rash, and swelling around the eyes and on the back of the hands. After approximately five days, individuals may experience changes in mental state, coma, brain swelling, respiratory issues, and multiorgan damage. It is fatal in 5% to 10% of cases, with half of those cases resulting in death within eight days of the onset of illness.
The CDC recommends that anyone who has traveled to northern Mexico and develops symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever within two weeks of returning to the US should seek medical attention immediately. To prevent tick bites, individuals should treat pet dogs, use insect repellent, and wear protective clothing when outdoors. After spending time outdoors or around dogs, individuals should check themselves and children for ticks and promptly remove any ticks found.
