An outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Southern California has left three deaths, according to the health advisory issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on December 8.
The five reported cases have links to people who recently traveled or lived in Tecate, Mexico, and it was learned that three of them have died. Tick-borne RMSF raises concerns about the potential spread of these disease carriers across borders, highlighting the importance of preventive measures.
RMSF, classified as a “serious, rapidly progressive and often fatal disease,” It is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. This disease is endemic in several states in northern Mexico, bordering the United States, including Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo León, as well as some parts of the southwestern United States.
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center and Fox News medical contributor, has expressed concerns about these isolated cases that are occurring in Mexico.
The porosity of the borders raises the possibility of disease-carrying ticks crossing into the United States along with migrants, adding an additional layer of concern.
The bacteria responsible for spotted fever, Rickettsia rickettsii, is transmitted by brown dog ticks, which are typically found on domestic canines.
Siegel highlights the difference between this tick and the one known to transmit Lyme disease, mentioning that the dog tick is larger and lacks the characteristic white spot of the Lone Star tick.
CDC alerts medical providers
Despite the cases, Siegel has effectively diagnosed and treated some patients, confirming the disease through blood tests. CDC urges healthcare providers to consider the possibility of RMSF when evaluating patients with fever who have recently been to northern Mexico. The standard treatment for this condition is the antibiotic doxycycline.
The lethality of RMSF in Mexico can exceed 40%, being five times more deadly for children under 10 years of age compared to adults, according to the CDC alert.
The initial symptoms that include headache, low to moderate fever, abdominal pain and rash, They are often overlooked due to their similarity to those of the flu. Although the disease is named after the “speckled” rash, not everyone develops it in the first few days.
In advanced stages, RMSF can cause mental disorientation, coma, swelling of the brain, organ damage, death of body tissue, and decreased respiratory function.
The CDC requires health care professionals to report all cases to local, state, territorial, or tribal health departments. For those who are experiencing symptoms and have recently traveled to a city in northern Mexico, the CDC recommends seeking medical attention immediately.
Additionally, as a preventive measure, the CDC advises treat dogs with EPA-registered insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, check for ticks after outdoor activities and remove them immediately. The community is alert to this RMSF outbreak, underscoring the importance of prevention and timely medical care to mitigate the spread and impact of this tick-borne disease.
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