05/01/26 Public Health Education Topic: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
- Health Department
- 23 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Per CDC:
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease spread through the bite of an infected tick.
Signs and symptoms
Early signs and symptoms are not specific to RMSF (including fever and headache). However, the disease can rapidly progress to a serious and life-threatening illness.
Signs and symptoms can include:
Fever
Headache
Rash
Nausea or vomiting
Stomach pain
Muscle pain
Lack of appetite
When to seek medical care
If you become ill after having been bitten by a tick, having been in the woods, or in areas with high brush where ticks commonly live, see your healthcare provider.
How it spreads
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a serious tickborne illness which can be deadly if not treated early. It is spread by several species of ticks in the United States, including:
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) - parts of southwestern United States and Mexico
RMSF cases occur throughout the United States.
Prevention
There is no vaccine to prevent RMSF. Prevent illness by preventing tick bites on yourself, on your pets, and in your yard.
Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). Know which ticks are most common in your area.
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