The CDC is warning Americans of a recent outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever urging anyone with symptoms to seek immediate treatment without waiting for test results.
Three people have died of the illness and two others were hospitalized after contracting the tick-borne disease.
All five cases were identified in Southern California and had been to Tecate, Baja California in the two weeks preceding their diagnosis.
“If a person develops a rash or fever after being bitten, they should see a doctor, tell them about the tick bite, when they were bitten, and where they think it happened,” the CDC said in a statement.
The bacterial illness spreads through infected ticks and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Symptoms include fever, headache, and rash. RMSF can be a deadly disease if not treated early and properly.
