Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Rise of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever has officials urging caution outdoors
by Brittany Smith/Cronkite News (March 1st, 2012 @ 5:00am)
PHOENIX - Reported Arizona cases of a potentially fatal disease spread by ticks have increased steadily over the past decade and spiked within the last two years. With temperatures warming, state and federal officials say those heading into the outdoors should be aware of the danger.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is an infection that in Arizona is spread primarily by the common brown dog tick, which is common in higher elevations. The ticks often attach to dogs and can then move over to people.
Will Humble, director of the state Department of Health Services, said Arizonans need to manage their pets in the outdoors to keep the disease from spreading.
"If everyone used tick collars on their dogs, I think we'd have a lot fewer cases," Humble said. "People may not realize that if they take their Phoenix dog to the high mountain they need to use a tick collar."
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever first appeared on the department's radar in 2002. Since then, the number of reported cases in the state has steadily increased, with 23 cases reported in 2009 and 52 cases in 2011. There was one known death in 2009 and five known deaths in 2011, according to the state health department.
Most cases have been in eastern Arizona, but Humble said there are now cases being reported in southern Arizona.
More...
http://ktar.com/6/1508334/Rise-of-Rocky-Mountain-Spotted-Fever-has-officials-urging-caution-outdoors
by Brittany Smith/Cronkite News (March 1st, 2012 @ 5:00am)
PHOENIX - Reported Arizona cases of a potentially fatal disease spread by ticks have increased steadily over the past decade and spiked within the last two years. With temperatures warming, state and federal officials say those heading into the outdoors should be aware of the danger.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is an infection that in Arizona is spread primarily by the common brown dog tick, which is common in higher elevations. The ticks often attach to dogs and can then move over to people.
Will Humble, director of the state Department of Health Services, said Arizonans need to manage their pets in the outdoors to keep the disease from spreading.
"If everyone used tick collars on their dogs, I think we'd have a lot fewer cases," Humble said. "People may not realize that if they take their Phoenix dog to the high mountain they need to use a tick collar."
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever first appeared on the department's radar in 2002. Since then, the number of reported cases in the state has steadily increased, with 23 cases reported in 2009 and 52 cases in 2011. There was one known death in 2009 and five known deaths in 2011, according to the state health department.
Most cases have been in eastern Arizona, but Humble said there are now cases being reported in southern Arizona.
More...
http://ktar.com/6/1508334/Rise-of-Rocky-Mountain-Spotted-Fever-has-officials-urging-caution-outdoors