Local Health Officials Address Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

A recent death in the La Crosse area is raising some concerns among health officials across the state. It was the first ever confirmed death caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever here in Wisconsin. The disease is often spread through ticks. 

Joyce Mann from the Fond du Lac County Health Department reminds people to be aware while enjoying their summer activities. She tells us “it is more rare here than it is in the southeastern United States, but what’s important for people to remember again is, again, if your out hiking or camping or in outdoor environments, take precautions against the ticks. And it’s the same for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever as it is for Lyme Disease, which is much more prevalent here.”

Mann says to use insect repellent with DEET to keep the ticks away. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a very rare disease, with less than 20,000 cases across the country each year.