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A rare tick-borne disease has been identified in South Shore after a woman living in a rodent-infested house fell severely ill in April. Tick-borne relapsing fever is transmitted by the bite of infected soft ticks that live in rodent nests, but usually only shows up in rustic cabins.
"This was a nice home in a nice subdivision in a nice area of Tahoe," said Ginger Huber, Tahoe division manager for the El Dorado County environmental management department. She said the house was being remodeled and birds had drilled holes in the outside walls, allowing access by rodents.
El Dorado County health officials have identified the case as unusually severe. They also reminded residents that ticks do exist in the area, and also transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Soft ticks, unlike hard ticks, usually feed at night and do not attach. People rarely notice they have been bitten.
The woman was hospitalized with the fever in April after rodents, including chipmunks and mice, invaded the walls of her home. She has since recovered.
"There were dogs at the home where the case occurred, and there were no soft ticks found on the dogs, so they may prefer human hosts," Huber said.
Symptoms appear in repeating or "relapsing" cycles with periods of fever lasting 2-7 days separated by periods of up to one week without symptoms.
In severe cases, the illness can lead to respiratory distress and require hospitalization. The disease occurs in the western United States, typically in the mountains and foothills at elevations of 3,000 to 9,000 feet.
The illness can be prevented by rodent-proofing places where people live and sleep.
"This case is unusual, not only because of the severity of the case, but also because the woman became ill in her home located in an urban area of South Lake Tahoe, " Huber said. "Most cases of relapsing fever are associated with rustic cabins."
During the investigation into the cause of the illness, which included assistance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Health Services, multiple rodent nests were found in the walls of the home. Chipmunks, mice and birds had gained entrance after birds had bored holes into the wall. Soft ticks were found in the nests.
Soft ticks live in the nests of small animals such as squirrels, mice, birds and especially chipmunks. The nests are usually located under flooring and between walls. If the rodents are scarce, the ticks will take a meal from other warm-blooded animals, including humans.
People who become sick with relapsing fever typically have flu-like illness with fever, sweats, chills, headache and body aches.
Professionals should be called to remove rodents, because disturbing their nests could stir up the ticks and increase exposure.
Additional information about relapsing fever can be obtained by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/relapsingfever.
"This was a nice home in a nice subdivision in a nice area of Tahoe," said Ginger Huber, Tahoe division manager for the El Dorado County environmental management department. She said the house was being remodeled and birds had drilled holes in the outside walls, allowing access by rodents.
El Dorado County health officials have identified the case as unusually severe. They also reminded residents that ticks do exist in the area, and also transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Soft ticks, unlike hard ticks, usually feed at night and do not attach. People rarely notice they have been bitten.
The woman was hospitalized with the fever in April after rodents, including chipmunks and mice, invaded the walls of her home. She has since recovered.
"There were dogs at the home where the case occurred, and there were no soft ticks found on the dogs, so they may prefer human hosts," Huber said.
Symptoms appear in repeating or "relapsing" cycles with periods of fever lasting 2-7 days separated by periods of up to one week without symptoms.
In severe cases, the illness can lead to respiratory distress and require hospitalization. The disease occurs in the western United States, typically in the mountains and foothills at elevations of 3,000 to 9,000 feet.
The illness can be prevented by rodent-proofing places where people live and sleep.
"This case is unusual, not only because of the severity of the case, but also because the woman became ill in her home located in an urban area of South Lake Tahoe, " Huber said. "Most cases of relapsing fever are associated with rustic cabins."
During the investigation into the cause of the illness, which included assistance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Health Services, multiple rodent nests were found in the walls of the home. Chipmunks, mice and birds had gained entrance after birds had bored holes into the wall. Soft ticks were found in the nests.
Soft ticks live in the nests of small animals such as squirrels, mice, birds and especially chipmunks. The nests are usually located under flooring and between walls. If the rodents are scarce, the ticks will take a meal from other warm-blooded animals, including humans.
People who become sick with relapsing fever typically have flu-like illness with fever, sweats, chills, headache and body aches.
Professionals should be called to remove rodents, because disturbing their nests could stir up the ticks and increase exposure.
Additional information about relapsing fever can be obtained by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/relapsingfever.
