Rocky Mountain spotted fever reported in Madison County

JACKSON, Tenn. — Health experts confirmed at least one case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Madison County this year and said there could be more.

Beware of ticks, which carry a bacteria health experts say can make you sick with the disease. “A fever, headache, a rash, sometimes muscle aches,” said Shanna Shearon, an epidemiologist at the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department.

Shearon said Madison County typically has less than 10 RMSF cases a year. She said in 2015 the county reported seven cases of RMSF, up from three cases in 2014. “We just have one for this year, but we’re working up a couple other ones,” Shearon said.

David Markowski, owner of Homestead Pest Management in Jackson, said they start seeing a lot of ticks in April and May. “Our weather in the wintertime is not cool enough to kill enough of them, so they just kind of explode on us,” he said.

Markowski says to spray your yard or have it treated by a professional and keep the grass cut. “They like tall grass, and what they do is they crawl up to the tops of that all grass and bushes and things, and then that’s how they attach to you,” he said.

Shearon said check your body for ticks. “If you’re going to be outside for a long period of time, try to cover up,” she said. “Try to make sure you spray bug spray, whatever you choose to use.”

The health department said some cases of RMSF can be fatal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2010 Tennessee had one of the highest incidence rates of RMSF nationwide.