Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth advised other outdoorsmen to proceed with caution after he recently tested positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The disease, caused by the bite of a tick infected with Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria, is relatively rare, with between 6,000-7,000 cases reported in the U.S. annually as of 2024, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
Symptoms include high fever, headache, lack of appetite, muscle pain or soreness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sensitivity to light and a distinct rash…