Northern Californian Becomes 4th Known Rickettsia lanei Case After Tick-Borne Illness
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 15
Northern Californian Becomes 4th Known Rickettsia lanei Case After Tick-Borne Illness
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 15
Summary
A Northern Californian diagnosed in April is the fourth known person ever confirmed with Rickettsia lanei, a newly recognized tick-borne bacterial disease, state health officials said.
The patient was seriously ill, hospitalized and later discharged to recover; officials did not identify the county but said the person lived and worked in Northern California.
Rickettsia lanei was added to California’s list of potentially transmissible pathogens in 2024 after two severe earlier cases in 2004 and 2023, both involving outdoor exposure and lengthy hospital stays.
The bacterium belongs to the spotted fever group Rickettsia and can cause symptoms resembling Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can lead to organ damage or neurological problems.
California officials and UC Davis researchers say infections appear rare but may be underdetected because symptoms overlap with other tick-borne illnesses, underscoring advice to avoid tick bites outdoors.