Possible case of rocky mountain spotted fever contracted by local woman

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Kalamazoo-area woman says she contracted a rare and sometimes deadly disease at a local lake.

"Developed a rash all down my ankles. Feet, arms," explained Angela Castellani. "I had stiffness in the back of my neck. I had severe migranes, where I thought my head was going to explode."

Castellani says she was visiting a friend by Long Lake, in Portage, when she got bit by a tick.

A couple weeks later, she developed a high fever, full body aches, and severe rashes.

She went to the hospital, where doctors treated her for a suspected case of rocky mountain spotted fever.

Doctor David Davenport, at Borgess Hospital says the disease is more common down south, but that's starting to change.

"What we've been seeing recently because of global warming is a changed pattern of all diseasesincreased incidents of lyme diseases, and other tick-borne diseases with mosquitoes with global warming," he said.

According to the State Health Department, there have been 17 cases of the disease in Michigan this year--a huge spike from years past.

The CDC says about one in five untreated cases of rocky mountain spotted fever result in death.

Castellani says her doctor notified the CDC about her case, but her blood tests still need to be analyzed before it's a confirmed case.