Connecticut reports first human case of tick-borne illness in the Northeast

The first ever recorded case of a tick-borne disease in the Northeast was reported in Connecticut, officials said.

Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis is a type of typhus that is spread through infected mites and tick bites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, it is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but has milder symptoms that can include headache, fever, rashes and muscle aches.

According to CAES, the disease typically spreads in southern states, primarily Florida, but has steadily spread along the East Coast over the past 80 years.

The spread of R. parkeri rickettsiosis can likely be attributed to factors such as rising global temperatures, increased travel and technological changes, Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of the CAES passive surveillance program for ticks and tick-borne diseases.

“Warming temperatures associated with climate change are expected to lead to further expansion of the range and abundance of several tick species, increasing their importance as an emerging threat to humans, domesticated animals and wildlife,” Molaei said in a statement.

The Gulf Coast tick, the breed that spreads R. parkeri rickettsiosis, first established itself in Fairfield County in 2021, according to Molaei. About 30% of ticks on the Gulf Coast transmit the disease.

The ticks later spread to parts of New York and New Jersey, with infection rates even higher in 2022 and 2024 – although there have been no human cases so far.

Connecticut is no stranger to tick-borne diseases and even has a town named after Lyme disease, which was first discovered in the state.

Residents are advised to check for ticks after spending time in particularly wooded areas. Prevention strategies include Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents and limiting outdoor skin exposure.