Soft Tick Relapsing Fever - United States, 2012-2021

Soft tick relapsing fever (STRF) (also known as tickborne relapsing fever) is a rare infection caused by certain Borrelia spirochetes and transmitted to humans by soft-bodied Ornithodoros ticks. In the United States, acquisition of STRF is commonly associated with exposure to rustic cabins, camping,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2023-07, Vol.72 (29), p.777-781
Main Authors: Beeson, Amy M, Kjemtrup, Anne, Oltean, Hanna, Schnitzler, Hannah, Venkat, Heather, Ruberto, Irene, Marzec, Natalie, Cozart, Devon, Tengelsen, Leslie, Ladd-Wilson, Stephen, Rettler, Hannah, Mayes, Bonny, Broussard, Kelly, Garcia, Ali, Drake, Lisa L, Dietrich, Elizabeth A, Petersen, Jeannine, Hinckley, Alison F, Kugeler, Kiersten J, Marx, Grace E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibiotics
Arachnids
Argasidae
Bacterial diseases
Borrelia
Camping
Caves
Diagnostic tests
Disease spread
Fatalities
Fever
Full Report
Geographical distribution
Humans
Infections
Lyme disease
Microscopy
Morbidity
Ornithodoros
Patients
Prevention
Public health
Relapsing fever
Relapsing Fever - diagnosis
Relapsing Fever - drug therapy
Relapsing Fever - epidemiology
Rodents
Seasonal distribution
Seasonal variations
Surveillance
Ticks
United States - epidemiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Soft tick relapsing fever (STRF) (also known as tickborne relapsing fever) is a rare infection caused by certain Borrelia spirochetes and transmitted to humans by soft-bodied Ornithodoros ticks. In the United States, acquisition of STRF is commonly associated with exposure to rustic cabins, camping, and caves. Antibiotic treatment is highly effective for STRF, but without timely treatment, STRF can result in severe complications, including death. No nationally standardized case definition for STRF exists; however, the disease is reportable in 12 states. This report summarizes demographic and clinical information for STRF cases reported during 2012-2021 from states where STRF is reportable. During this period, 251 cases were identified in 11 states. The median annual case count was 24. Most patients with STRF (55%) were hospitalized; no fatalities were reported. The geographic distribution and seasonal pattern of STRF have remained relatively constant since the 1990s. Persons should avoid rodent-infested structures and rodent habitats, such as caves, in areas where STRF is endemic. STRF surveillance, prevention, and control efforts would benefit from a standardized case definition and increased awareness of the disease among the public and clinicians.
ISSN:0149-2195
1545-861X
DOI:10.15585/MMWR.MM7229A1