© Javier Lizarazo GuerraThe CDC revealed at least three people have died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, caused by bites from infected ticks, after five cases were detected in California since July, 2023.
At least three people have died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever [RMSF] in the last five months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a public alert on Friday.
Five cases of the deadly disease โ caused by bites from infected ticks โ have been reported since July in Southern California.
In each case, the patient had been in the Mexican border city of Tecate within two weeks of becoming ill,
the agency said.
All five patients, three US residents and two Mexican residents, were hospitalized and three died. Four of the patients were minors.
"RMSF is a severe, rapidly progressive, and often deadly disease transmitted by the bite of infected ticks, although many patients do not recall being bitten by a tick," the CDC notice said.
Comment: It's interesting that they've been talking about the possibility of CWD jumping to humans since at least 2017: Can Chronic Wasting Disease be transmitted from deer to humans?
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