The survey of households found that although 80% of residents had heard of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, less than half used pesticides to prevent the presence of ticks.
The first comprehensive study to examine the risk factors for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Mexicali, Mexico, found that citywide, just 1 in 1000 ticks was infected with the disease, but in certain neighborhoods, about 1 in 10 ticks was infected.
In the study by a binational team of investigators at the University of California, Davis, and published in the
The survey of households found that although 80% of residents had heard of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, less than half used pesticides to prevent the presence of ticks.
Patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever typically develop symptoms 1 to 2 weeks after being bitten by an infected tick. As the bacteria infect blood vessel linings, blood begins to pool under the skin, resulting in a rash that looks like red splotches or spots. It can be deadly if not treated with antibiotics.
Investigators noted that a Rocky Mountain spotted fever epidemic on the scale of that in Mexicali is less likely in the United States. However, as temperatures warm because of climate change, concerns exist that a particular human-feeding brown down tick strain will continue to move north, resulting in more cases in humans north of the Mexican border. Pharmacists can counsel patients about the rising risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and prevention methods, including preventing tick bites.
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