3 Dead in Southern California From Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: CDC

An outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Southern California has resulted in three deaths, according to a health advisory issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rocky Mountain spotted fever is described as a severe, rapidly progressive and often deadly disease transmitted by the bite of infected ticks, according to the CDC. The CDC reported Dec. 8 five patients were diagnosed with the fever between July and December. All patients were hospitalized, and three died. Four patients were under 18, according to the agency. Three were U.S. residents, and two were residents of Mexico. All had traveled to or resided in the city of Tecate in the state of Baja California, Mexico, within two weeks of the fever’s onset....