Health officials in Quebec have confirmed the first case of a tick-borne bacterial disease commonly found in the United States within the province. The isolated case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was recently identified in the Eastern Townships region, located to the east of Montreal. Epidemiologist Alex Carignan from the local health authority reported that the patient responded positively to antibiotic treatment.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is characterized by high fevers, a distinct rash, and can be fatal if not treated promptly. This particular infection is caused by the dermacentor tick, commonly known as the American dog tick. Carignan mentioned that while experts anticipated the spread of the disease to Quebec, the detection of the first case occurred earlier than anticipated.
