Rocky Mountain spotted fever

noun

: an acute disease that is characterized by chills, fever, prostration, pains in muscles and joints, and a red to purple eruption and that is caused by a rickettsial bacteria (Rickettsia rickettsii) usually transmitted by an ixodid tick and especially the American dog tick, brown dog tick, or a wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni)

Examples of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Three people have died after contracting Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.1 In a health alert posted last week, the agency outlined five cases of the tickborne illness that were reported between July and December of this year. Julia Landwehr, Health, 19 Dec. 2023 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that an outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in southern California has led to three deaths. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 An outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in southern California has led to three deaths, according to a Dec. 8 health advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2023 While several types of ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever in different parts of the country, the brown dog tick is responsible for the illness in the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico and is found there year-round. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 8 Dec. 2023 Also check your dogs because dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can also infect humans. Timmy Broderick, Scientific American, 14 June 2023 In addition to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ticks carry other diseases including Lyme disease and tularemia. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 Both of those ticks can infect people with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023 Doxycycline, a cost-effective antibiotic which has been used for more than 40 years, has been employed in treating conditions such as acne, chlamydia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Rocky Mountain spotted fever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was in 1905

Dictionary Entries Near Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Cite this Entry

“Rocky Mountain spotted fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Rocky%20Mountain%20spotted%20fever. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

noun
: a disease that is caused by a bacterium passed on by the bite of a tick and that is characterized by chills, fever, headache, pains in the muscles and joints, and a red to purple rash

Medical Definition

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

noun
Rocky Moun·​tain spotted fever ˈräk-ē-ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn- How to pronounce Rocky Mountain spotted fever (audio)
: an acute bacterial disease that is characterized by chills, fever, prostration, pains in muscles and joints, and a red purple eruption and that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Rickettsia (R. rickettsii) usually transmitted by ixodid ticks and especially by the American dog tick, brown dog tick, and Rocky Mountain wood tick

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