What Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
3. Prevalence
Cases of RMSF have risen sharply since the turn of the century. In 2000, 495 cases were reported, compared to 6,248 in 2017. Since then, there has been a small decline, though it remains to be seen whether the downward trend will continue. The death rate in the U.S. is low, averaging less the 1% annually.
The illness is more common in the southeastern U.S. More than 50% of total cases occur in Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. RMSF was found for the first time in Arizona in 2013. Between that year and 2018, nearly 430 cases were reported, with a significantly higher than average death rate of 5%.
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