A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Wed 30 Oct 2013
Source: San Ramon Patch [edited]
<http://sanramon.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/new-disease-increases-risk-of-tickbourne-illness-in-california>
Fall and winter bring on young active ticks, and with that the risk of
disease, according to a newsletter released by the Contra Costa
Mosquito and Vector Control District. "In addition to spreading Lyme
disease, researchers now say ticks are also responsible for
transmitting a previously unknown disease that is related to Rocky
Mounted spotted fever," the release stated. The new bacterium was
recorded in 4 human cases statewide, with 2 of those cases in Contra
Costa County.
The newsletter reads:
"The _Rickettsia philipii_ bacterium is transmitted by the PacificCoast tick (_Dermacentor occidentalis_), which is one of the 3 primary
ticks that can be found across California. So far scientists have
found ticks infected with this new bacterium in at least 8 California
counties.
"While a small percentage of adult Pacific Coast ticks have tested positive for the disease thus far, researchers find that young nymphs
are testing positive as well. This makes prevention very important
because these young ticks are very small and very difficult to see.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue, and what appears to be
a blackened scab at the site of a tick bite.
