Missouri Tickborne Disease Story Map

Many tickborne diseases have been reported in Missouri residents: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Lyme disease, Heartland virus, and Bourbon virus. 

The most commonly reported tickborne diseases in Missouri are ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).

Wear light-colored clothing to help you spot ticks more easily while outdoors. Also, tuck or tape your pant legs into your socks to prevent access to skin. When returning indoors, place clothing in the dryer on high heat for several minutes to kill any ticks that might be on the clothing.

If you are likely to have exposure to a tick habitat, then consider treating clothing and gear with products containing permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Apply an  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent  containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthanediol (PMD), or 2-undecanone to any exposed skin.

Carefully check your body for ticks. Ticks attach on people in many places, but are most frequently found around the head, neck, underarms, and between the legs. Remove any attached ticks immediately.

Don’t forget to check your pets for ticks! Talk with your pet’s veterinarian about tick prevention products.

Occurrence of Ehrlichiosis in Missouri from 2009 through 2021.

Choose a year to see case rates for each county for that year. Click the button on the top-right of the map to see the legend. Click on a county or jurisdiction to see how many cases were reported there in that year.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), the most commonly reported Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis (SFR), is a bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and is spread through the bite of an infected tick.

SFR cases occur throughout the United States, but five states (North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) account for over 50% of cases.

Most people who get sick with SFR will have a fever, headache, and rash. SFR can be deadly if not treated early with the right antibiotic.  

Occurrence of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis in Missouri from 2009 through 2021.

Choose a year to see case rates for each county for that year. Click the button on the top-right of the map to see the legend. Click on a county or jurisdiction to see how many cases were reported there in that year.

Tularemia is a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis can infect both people and animals. People can become infected in several ways including: tick and deer fly bites, skin contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water, inhaling contaminated aerosols or agricultural/landscaping dust, or through laboratory exposures. 

Symptoms of infection can vary depending on the route of entry.  Generalized illness can include fever, chills, headache, malaise, fatigue, anorexia, myalgia, chest discomfort, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Infection is treatable with antibiotics. 

In Missouri, ticks that transmit F. tularensis bacteria to humans include the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). The Rocky Mountain wood tick (D. andersoni) can also transmit the bacteria.

Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible to tularemia and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. In the United States, naturally occurring infections have been reported from all states except Hawaii. 

Occurrence of tularemia in Missouri from 2009 through 2021.

Choose a year to see case rates for each county for that year. Click the button on the top-right of the map to see the legend. Click on a county or jurisdiction to see how many cases were reported there in that year.

Lyme disease is a bacterial disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (I. scapularis). 

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

Missouri is considered a low incident state for Lyme disease. Most cases of Lyme disease are reported from the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

Occurrence of Lyme Disease in Missouri from 2009 through 2021.

Choose a year to see case rates for each county for that year. Click the button on the top-right of the map to see the legend. Click on a county or jurisdiction to see how many cases were reported there in that year.

Anaplasmosis is a bacterial disease caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. These bacteria are spread to people by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) but also the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus).

Anaplasmosis is most commonly reported in the Northeastern and upper Midwestern states. This infection is not commonly identified in Missouri residents.

People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Infection is treatable with antibiotics.

Occurrence of Anaplasmosis in Missouri from 2009 through 2021.

Choose a year to see case rates for each county for that year. Click the button on the top-right of the map to see the legend. Click on a county or jurisdiction to see how many cases were reported there in that year.