EGIDOPADREQINO, Mexico, A relentless and deadly tick-borne epidemic is wreaking havoc, while dogs are emerging as an unexpected ally in its containment. In the town of EGIDOPADREQINO, Mexico, tragedy has repeatedly struck as young lives are claimed by Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the Americas. Transmitted by tick bites, mainly from dogs, the disease has made an alarming resurgence in northern Mexico, prompting scientists to step up efforts in both research and public awareness campaigns.
Among the poignant anecdotes from this community, the story of a 7-year-old boy is a stark reminder of the impact of the disease. His initial symptoms of fever and discomfort quickly escalated, and within days he succumbed to the disease. Similar stories of suffering and death unfolded among the local population, a chilling pattern that demanded immediate action.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which originates from ticks on dogs, has shown a worrying upward trend. Over the past five years, more than 2,000 cases and hundreds of deaths have been reported in northern Mexico, with young children suffering the most. In Baja California, particularly in EGIDOPADREQINO, the situation remains grim, with projections of a staggering 92 cases in 2022, double the previous year’s figure.
To address this growing crisis, a collaborative team of Mexican and US scientists embarked on a mission to understand the dynamics of the disease and mitigate its impact. Their efforts included extracting ticks from dogs, painstakingly searching for larvae in household crevices, and lobbying against the presence of dogs in urban areas.
Oscar Efrén Zazueta, an epidemiologist from Baja California and a key member of the research team, emphasised the preventability of the disease: “It’s very, very difficult because it’s a disease that’s 100 percent preventable. Children are people who come into contact with dogs and they die very, very quickly… within a few days.”
The looming threat of climate change looms large in the context of tick-borne diseases. Rising temperatures accelerate tick activity, increasing the risk of disease transmission. Along with malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus and Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is poised to expand its reach. The study predicts an increase in the number of days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit across the U.S., adding to concerns about the emergence of heat-related tick-borne diseases.
As the climate changes, ticks are extending their feeding periods on humans and animals, a factor that accelerates their reproduction and spread. This change in behaviour has already been observed in regions where tick-borne diseases are prevalent. Ben Beard, deputy director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said: “They started biting people earlier this year and staying outdoors longer… More and more people may be affected. Infected ticks bite, leading to more cases of tick-borne diseases.”
The unpredictable nature of Rocky Mountain spotted fever adds to the complexity of containment efforts. The disease often simmers before erupting and receding, leaving affected communities in a state of vulnerability. The bacterium responsible for the disease, Rickettsia spp, is transmitted by ticks, which typically feed on wildlife. However, the discovery in 2003 that brown dog ticks, commonly found around homes with dogs, can also transmit the disease added a new dimension to its spread.
Vulnerable populations living in low-income neighbourhoods, including those in EGIDOPADREQINO, are at the epicentre of these outbreaks. Migrant workers and increased stray dog populations have led to increased human tick interactions, further fueling the disease’s progression. The consequences are dire, with the bacterium causing severe illness and even death in dogs. If left untreated, the disease is fatal for 4 out of 10 people infected in Baja California.
Children under the age of 10 bear the brunt of the disease due to their proximity to dogs and the similarity of Rocky Mountain spotted fever’s early symptoms to common childhood illnesses. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical, and death is preventable if the correct antibiotics are administered within days of infection.
As the scientific community rallies against this escalating threat, the role of dogs is proving to be pivotal. By understanding and addressing the dynamics of infection within the dog population, experts hope to curb the spread of this devastating disease. In a world where global health crises are increasingly intertwined with ecological factors, the partnership between people, animals and the environment is becoming a critical way to protect public health.
