WHO gets Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)?
Anyone who handles or is bitten by an infected tick can get the illness. WHAT causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by bacteria transmitted to humans by the American dog tick. WHEN do most cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever occur? RMSF is a disease of late spring and summer. Most cases occur between April and July. WHERE do these ticks live? The American dog tick is found throughout Ohio, and prefers areas with tall grass and weeds, in uncultivated fields and meadows. They cling to grass at the edges of paths or animal trails, waiting to latch onto an animal or human. HOW does Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever make people ill? Can it be treated? Is it fatal? RSMF can be fatal. Ohio has recorded 18 deaths since 1964, including one in 1996. Symptoms can include sudden fever, headache, and muscle pain, usually followed by a rash that first appears on the arms and legs before spreading to the trunk, palms and soles. The incubation period for RMSF is two
