Infectious Diseases: Warning!

INFECTIOUS DISEASES Warning! Look to the Palms and the Soles

Rocky Mountain spotted fever got its name for the good and simple reason that it was first identified as a distinct disease among residents of the mountain states. For years, however, a majority of the cases have occurred east of the Mississippi. Now a disproportionate number are being reported from Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Spotted fever is caused by an unusual microbe, halfway between viruses and bacteria. It is harbored by ticks, which live in scrub and especially around garbage dumps, and gets...

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