Deadly Tick Alert! CDC Issues Urgent Warning After 3 Fatalities in Tecate, Mexico – Are You at Risk?”
In early December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory through the Health Alert Network (HAN), notifying healthcare providers and the public about the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) outbreak in travelers to northern Mexico, specifically in Tecate, Mexico. The affected regions include Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and other areas in northern Mexico.
The CDC reported that, since July 2023, five individuals had been diagnosed with RMSF. All diagnosed cases had a common factor – they had been in Tecate within two weeks of the onset of their illness. Notably, all five had sought treatment in southern California hospitals, with three of them succumbing to the disease.
CDC
The CDC is cautioning healthcare providers to be vigilant for RMSF in individuals who have recently visited Tecate, Mexico. In regions like Baja California, the risk of encountering ticks, which can carry the infection, persists throughout the year due to the presence of infected ticks on dogs.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is contracted through tick bites, affecting both humans and dogs. Prompt diagnosis within the initial days is crucial for effective antibiotic treatment. After five to six days, the disease is more likely to progress to severe symptoms.
The CDC stressed the rapid progression of RMSF, with half of the fatalities occurring within eight days of contracting the disease. Early symptoms include fever, headaches, and stomach upset, prompting health officials to advise individuals with insect bites or recent travel history to seek medical attention.
The County’s Vector Control Program actively monitors ticks, rodents, and mosquitoes, all potential disease vectors for humans. Ticks, which come in around 850 different types worldwide, can transmit various diseases such as Lyme disease, Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF), 364D rickettsiosis, Tularemia, among others, according to the CDC.
To prevent tick bites, the CDC provides several recommendations online. In case of a tick bite, individuals are advised to use tweezers to remove the tick, inform their doctor about the incident, including the duration of attachment and the location of the bite. It’s crucial to save the tick for identification, as only certain ticks carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
