title: Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the United States, 1997-2002.
abstract: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is the most commonly reported fatal tick-borne disease in the United States. During 1997-2002, 3,649 cases of RMSF were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via the National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance; 2,589 case report forms, providing supplemental information, were also submitted. The average annual RMSF incidence during 1997-2002 was 2.2 cases/million persons. The annual incidence increased during 1997-2002 to a rate of 3.8 cases/million persons in 2002. The incidence was lowest among persons aged<5 and 10-29 years, and highest among adults aged 60-69 years. The overall case-fatality rate was 1.4%; the rate peaked in 1998 at 2.9% and declined to 0.7% in 2001 and 2002. Children<5 years of age had a case-fatality rate (5%) that was significantly greater than the rates for age groups<60 years of age, except for that for 40-49 years of age. Continued national surveillance is needed to assess the effectiveness of prevention efforts and early treatment in decreasing severe morbidity and mortality associated with RMSF.
authors.affiliation: Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Staci M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Demma
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: Aaron T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Curns
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McQuiston
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology