CDC Confirms First North Carolina Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Death

According to a recently published North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services press release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that a Guilford County woman has died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Although it is a serious illness, it is extremely rare according to public health officials. However, it is not to be taken lightly and should promote proper tick bite prevention from residents.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Jeffrey Engel said, "This is a serious illness, but it can be largely prevented by limiting exposure to tick bites. North Carolina and Oklahoma account for the most cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the country, so we need to be particularly vigilant here."

The case was of a Guildford County woman who was 61 years old. She died back in May of this year. At that time, her doctors determined that Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was indeed the cause of death. The CDC requested a skin rash biopsy for confirmation of the serious and deadly illness. Just recently the CDC announced that they had confirmed that it was a case Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The CDC noted that the lag time between the woman's death and their confirmation of the illness is normal.

The last time a North Carolina resident died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was back in 2005. There were a total of 862 cases of the illness in North Carolina reported last year. There have only been 261 cases reported to public health officials this year.

The CDC and public health officials in North Carolina are warning residents in the state and all over the country to be active in preventing tick bites.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include headache, rash, fever, and muscle pain. Most patients are hospitalized because of the severity of symptoms.

The CDC recommends using the following techniques to prevent exposure to ticks: