Californian is infected with rare tick-borne illness. What to know about the deadly bacteria
Key takeaways
- A Northern Californian has been confirmed as the fourth-ever person diagnosed with a newly recognized and rare tick-borne disease that causes symptoms similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- The California Department of Public Health confirmed the latest case of Rickettsia lanei bacteria in a patient who was diagnosed in April of this year.
- Public health officials told The Times that the infected person “was seriously ill, hospitalized and has since been discharged and is recovering.”
A tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and other illnesses. (fhm/Getty Images) By Karen Garcia Staff Writer Follow June 15, 2026 7:21 PM PT 5 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
A Northern Californian has been confirmed as the fourth-ever person diagnosed with a newly recognized and rare tick-borne disease that causes symptoms similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
The California Department of Public Health confirmed the latest case of Rickettsia lanei bacteria in a patient who was diagnosed in April of this year. Two other California cases were reported in 2004 and 2023.