Three Clark County residents suffer tick-borne disease

LAS VEGAS - Three cases of a rare, tick-borne disease in humans have been confirmed in Clark County, and the health district has issued a warning to anyone visiting the Mount Charleston area.

The three people who contracted the tick-borne relapsing fever were thought to be infected over the summer after being bitten by ticks at Mount Charleston. All three residents were hospitalized but now are recovering at home.

Health district officials don't recommend people change their hiking or camping plans on the mountain but suggest they use caution, dress in long sleeves and use insect repellant.

Relapsing fever is a rare bacterial disease transmitted from a tick known as an Ornithodoros. Ornithodoros usually feeds on rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks, said Donna Riddle, an epidemiologist for the Clark County Health District.

Riddle said residents should not overreact. No one here has died from the fever, which is easily treated with antibiotics, though patients are quite uncomfortable with symptoms.

Rick Sowadsky, a disease control specialist with the state Health Division, said three cases of relapsing fever had been reported in Nevada since 1992. All three were in Northern Nevada.

Symptoms of the disease usually occur three to 11 days following infection and include sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and a rash.

Pregnant women are at most risk for complications from relapsing fever, which can cause them to miscarry or cause the death of the infant if the baby is born with it.