Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is the most severe tick-borne illness in the United States. Most people who get RMSF will have a fever, headache, and rash. RMSF is treated with antibiotics; however, if treatment is delayed RMSF can be deadly. RMSF is transmitted through the bite of an American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, or brown dog tick. There is no vaccine to prevent RMSF. The best way to prevent infection is to prevent tick bites, prevent ticks on your pets, and prevent ticks in your yard.
What to do if you find a tick:
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible. Testing a tick for pathogens is not recommended for a variety of reasons.
If you have recovered a tick crawling on you or your pet, you can send us a picture of the tick to have it identified. Pictures can be sent to courtney.tillman@wyo.gov. Please include the following information:
A clear picture of the tick
Location where the tick was collected or acquired (city or zip code)
Collection date
Resources for Clinicians
Click here for RMSF Continuing Education (CE)