Human-case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever found in Quebec

A human case of the illness known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was reported in Quebec for the first time and health experts are warning people to keep an eye out for symptoms.

“It can be a pretty severe infection. It is a tick-transmitted illness and after roughly about a seven-day incubation period, sometimes longer or shorter, people will have non-specific symptoms,” says infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is fairly common across the United States, but only recently did it travel to Canada, which experts say is caused by climate change.

Health experts say the disease is transmitted by the Dermacentor tick — also known as the American dog tick — which live in similar conditions to other ticks and the bite prevention methods are the same.

This reported human case from Quebec comes soon after a dog became infected with the same disease in Ontario.

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The doctor in Quebec that reported the case says the investigation showed the patient had visited Long Point in the days before developing symptoms.

Health units say to seek medical attention if any of the symptoms appear after being exposed to ticks carrying this disease.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Spotted rash that starts on wrists and ankles
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Confusion
• Nausea, vomiting and or diarrhea.

Click here for more information on how to prevent and safely remove ticks.

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