Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-07-06
Spotted Fever Is
Caused By Ticks;
PrecautiOn Urged
Health Department Calls At
ticn OF Campers To Bite
Of Infected Ticks

In bBBetin, inst iss7ed. which
calls attention 70 the danger Of coz
trzctTng Ep0tted fsTer, fron the BITE
Of infected ticks, the State Depart
Dent Il Health advises campers, Xix
erE. pieniekerz, oEDers Of camps, or
Ct s5ores. and al others whose work
OF pleasure, takes them in-o sections
N which ticks are especially zbun-
dznt, 70 take The following proezu-
t5ons-
L AToSd ticks Be particularly
careful when walking along trails
through the E0ods-
2 Remove ticks when found On
the person OF On animals. a. speedily
as possible, but take great care IN do
ing 50, that the ticks are not crushed
between the fngers- II the inset Is
already embedded In the flesh, use
forcepE or wear gloves. A slight
break IN the skin vii serve as por-
tai Of entry for the infectious virus.
& Cut cut uncergT0Eth and weeds;
eut grass very short around dwellings
along paths, near bathing pools and
shores. Remove OF burn Debris.
2. Wear suitable clothing In going
through tiek-infested areas
5. On hikes OF camping trips or IN
IN heavily tick-infested areas, both
clothing and body should be carefully
Inspected, at least twice daily, but
especially On retiring.
8. Since tick-infested dogs are
potential carriers Of the infection, It
is not only important that dogs be
kept free from ticks, as advised in
item 2, but care should also be taken
to prevent dogs, from sections in
which the disease has appeared, from
roaming at large and from invading
other counties Persons who take
their dogs from one section TO anoth-
er, should be especially careful TO see
that their dogs are free from ticks.
In urging that these precautions be
taken, DR.. r r. Riley, Director Of the
State Department Of Health said, at
has been definitely established that
the tick-the kind you find on your
dog, OF on your own person, after a
walk through the high grass or
through the woods a carrier Of
the infection that causes spotted
fever. Not all ticks are infected, but
those that are infected are sources Of
grave danger. II is best TO regard all
Of them as sources Of danger and to
exercise the utmost care in handling
them, as the infection can be absorb
ed throug a scratch or break in the
skin as well as through the bite of
the infected insect. Ticks are inactive
in the winter and then start up again
in the spring. They are especially ac-
tive during the spring and summer
months.
"Since the middle of May, 20 cases
Of spotted fever have been reported
to the Bureau of Communicable
Diseases, % from the counties and
one from Baltimore City. There have
been five deaths all Of which origi-
mated in the counties. The cases have
been widely distributed and have been
reported from eleven counties-Anne
Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll,
Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Kent,
Montgomery, Somerset and Wicomico
Counties.
Spotted fever has been well known i
In the Rocky Mountain regions for a
long time. 1t has been comparatively
unknown, under that name, in the
Eastern states until recently. 1t was
first recognized in Maryland about
four years ago. From 1880 to 1882,
127 cases were reported to the De-
partment, 104 from the counties and
% from Baltimore City, with 16
deaths, IL reported from the counties
and 5 from Baltimore City"