Controlling Spread of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Table of Contents

A. Isolation and Quarantine Requirements

None.

B. Protection of Contacts of a Case

None.

C. Managing Special Situations

None.

D. Preventive Measures

Environmental Measures

Provide individuals the following information: Prevention of Rocky Mountain spotted fever involves making one’s property less attractive to ticks.

  • Remove leaf litter and brush from around the home.
  • Mow lawns regularly, and prune low-lying bushes to let in more sunlight.
  • Keep woodpiles in sunny areas off the ground.
  • If insecticides are used around the home, always follow the label instructions. Never use near streams or other bodies of water.

Personal Preventive Measures/Education

The best preventive measure is to avoid tick-infested areas. In areas where contact with ticks may occur, individuals should be advised of the following:

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long, light-colored pants tucked into socks or boots to make it easier to see ticks crawling on your clothing, and to prevent ticks from crawling up the inside of the pants legs.
  • Stay on trails when walking or hiking.
  • Use insect repellants properly. Repellants that contain DEET (diethyltoluamide) should be used in concentrations no higher than 30% for children. Remember, repellants should never be used on infants. Permethrin is a repellant that can be applied only to clothing, not exposed skin.
  • After each day spent in a tick-infested area, thoroughly check yourself, children, and pets for ticks. Remove any tick found on the body.  Clothing should also be checked.
  • Promptly remove any attached tick using fine-point tweezers. The tick should not be squeezed or twisted, but grasped close to the skin and pulled straight out with steady pressure. Once removed, the tick should be drowned in rubbing alcohol or the toilet.

Iowa Dept. of Public Health, Revised 7/15