The first case of the tick-borne disease in the Northeast was reported in Connecticut, officials said.
Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis is a type of spotted fever that is transmitted through infected ticks and tick bites, according to the . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, symptoms are reported to be milder and include headache, fever, rash, and muscle pain. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
CAES says the disease is typically worse in southern states, primarily Florida, but has steadily spread to the East Coast over the past 80 years.
Dr. Gowders Mollaei, director of CAES' Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program, said the spread of R. pardeli rickettsiosis could be attributed to factors such as rising global temperatures, increased travel, and technological changes. He said it was highly sexual.
“Increasing temperatures related to climate change are likely to expand the ranges of some tick species and continue to increase their numbers, posing new threats to humans, livestock and wildlife,” Mollaei said in a statement. is expected to grow in importance.”
The Gulf Coast tick, which carries R. pardeli rickettsiosis, first established itself in Fairfield County in 2021, Mollaei said. Approximately 30% of ticks on the Gulf Coast transmit the disease.
The tick has since spread to parts of New York and New Jersey, with even higher infection rates in 2022 and 2024, respectively, but no human cases have occurred to date.
Connecticut is not immune to tick-borne diseases, and one town is named after Lyme disease, which was first discovered in the state.
Residents are encouraged to check for ticks, especially after spending time in wooded areas. Precautions include using Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents and limiting skin exposure outdoors.
