Read the news release here.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. This organism may cause potentially fatal human illness in North and South America and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected tick species. In the United States, these include the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and brown dog tick. The ticks, sometimes no bigger than a pin head, become active and can spread disease any time of the year. Peak months for tickborne diseases are April through September. Ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush.
Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick, which also is known as the black-legged tick. The size of a deer tick may range from the size of a pin head to a small apple seed.