Article Category:
Review Article

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: A Call to Action

Gerardo Álvarez-Hernández Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Gerardo Álvarez-Hernández in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ruy López-Ridaura Subsecretaría de Prevención y Promoción de la Salud, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Ruy López-Ridaura in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ricardo Cortés-Alcalá Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Ricardo Cortés-Alcalá in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Gabriel García Rodríguez Dirección General de Epidemiología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Gabriel García Rodríguez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
J. R. Tadeo Calleja-López Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by J. R. Tadeo Calleja-López in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Cristian N. Rivera-Rosas Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Cristian N. Rivera-Rosas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
José Luis Alomía-Zegarra Secretaría de Salud Pública del Estado de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by José Luis Alomía-Zegarra in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Maureen Brophy National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

Search for other papers by Maureen Brophy in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Carina Berenice Brito-Lorán Instituto Nacional de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos (InDRE) “Dr. Manuel Martínez Báez,” Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Carina Berenice Brito-Lorán in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Maria del Carmen Candia-Plata Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Maria del Carmen Candia-Plata in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Santa Elizabeth Ceballos-Liceaga Dirección General de Epidemiología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Santa Elizabeth Ceballos-Liceaga in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Fabián Correa-Morales Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Fabián Correa-Morales in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Karla R. Dzul-Rosado Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi,” Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Karla R. Dzul-Rosado in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Janet Foley Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California;

Search for other papers by Janet Foley in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
José Manuel Galván-Moroyoqui Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by José Manuel Galván-Moroyoqui in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Roman Ganta Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri;

Search for other papers by Roman Ganta in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Verónica Gutiérrez-Cedillo Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Verónica Gutiérrez-Cedillo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Néstor Saúl Hernández-Milán Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Baja California, Mexicali, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Néstor Saúl Hernández-Milán in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Andrés M. López-Pérez Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, Xalapa, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Andrés M. López-Pérez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Luis Fernando López-Soto Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Luis Fernando López-Soto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Juan Manuel Martínez-Soto Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Juan Manuel Martínez-Soto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ana Lourdes Mata-Pineda Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Ana Lourdes Mata-Pineda in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Christopher D. Paddock National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

Search for other papers by Christopher D. Paddock in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Irma Leticia J. Ruiz-González Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Irma Leticia J. Ruiz-González in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Juan Edmundo Salinas-Aguirre Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Coahuila, Saltillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Juan Edmundo Salinas-Aguirre in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Johanna S. Salzer National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

Search for other papers by Johanna S. Salzer in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Sokani Sánchez-Montes Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agrícolas, Región Poza Rica-Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Sokani Sánchez-Montes in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Adriana Soto-Guzmán Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Adriana Soto-Guzmán in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Óscar Tamez-Rivera Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Mexico;

Search for other papers by Óscar Tamez-Rivera in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
David M. Wagner Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona;

Search for other papers by David M. Wagner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
David H. Walker Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

Search for other papers by David H. Walker in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
for The Working Group of the Symposium 2023 on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Hermosillo, Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0265
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
Get Permissions

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an ongoing public health crisis in Mexico, particularly in states bordering the United States. The national highest incidence and mortality of RMSF occur in this region, resulting in a case-fatality rate that ranges annually between 10% and 50%, primarily affecting vulnerable groups such as children, elderly adults, and persons living in poverty. Multiple biological, environmental, and social determinants can explain its growing presence throughout the country and how it challenges the health system and society. It is necessary to integrate resources and capacities from health authorities, research centers, and society to succeed in dealing with this problem. Through a scientific symposium, a group of academicians, U.S. health officials, and Mexican health authorities met on November 8–10, 2023, in Hermosillo, Mexico, to discuss the current situation of RMSF across the country and the challenges associated with its occurrence. An urgent call for action to improve national capacity against RMSF in the aspects of epidemiological and acarological surveillance, diagnosis, medical care, case and outbreak prevention, health promotion, and research was urged by the experts. The One Health approach is a proven multidisciplinary strategy to integrate policies and interventions to mitigate and prevent the burden of cases, deaths, and suffering caused by RMSF in Mexico.

Author Notes

Financial support: This research received funding from the National Centers for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, for the development of the binational symposium.

Disclosures: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC nor of the governmental or academic agencies with which the authors are affiliated.

Current contact information: Gerardo Álvarez-Hernández, J. R. Tadeo Calleja-López, Cristian N. Rivera-Rosas, Maria del Carmen Candia-Plata, José Manuel Galván-Moroyoqui, Luis Fernando López-Soto, Juan Manuel Martínez-Soto, Ana Lourdes Mata-Pineda, and Adriana Soto-Guzmán, Departamento de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico, E-mails: gerardo.alvarez@unison.mx, jrtcalleja@gmail.com, crisriv0298@gmail.com, carmen.candia@unison.mx, jose.galvan@unison.mx, luisfernando.lopez@unison.mx, juanmanuel.martinez@unison.mx, ana.mata@unison.mx, and adriana.soto@unison.mx. Ruy López-Ridaura, Subsecretaría de Prevención y Promoción de la Salud, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico, E-mail: ruy.lopez@salud.gob.mx. Ricardo Cortés-Alcalá, Fabián Correa-Morales, and Verónica Gutiérrez-Cedillo, Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico, E-mails: ricardo.cortes@salud.gob.mx, fabian.correa@msn.com, and veronica.gutierrez@salud.gob.mx. Gabriel García Rodríguez and Santa Elizabeth Ceballos-Liceaga, Dirección General de Epidemiología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico, E-mails: gabriel.garciar@salud.gob.mx and elizabeth.ceballos@salud.gob.mx. José Luis Alomía-Zegarra, Secretaría de Salud Pública del Estado de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico, E-mail: jose.alomia@salud.gob.mx. Maureen Brophy, Christopher D. Paddock, and Johanna S. Salzer, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mails: qvw8@cdc.gov, cdp9@cdc.gov, and hio7@cdc.gov. Carina Berenice Brito-Lorán, Instituto Nacional de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos (InDRE) “Dr. Manuel Martínez Báez,” Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico, E-mail: carina.brito@salud.gob.mx. Karla R. Dzul-Rosado, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi,” Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico, E-mail: karla.dzul@correo.uady.mx. Janet Foley, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, E-mail: jefoley@ucdavis.edu. Roman Ganta, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, E-mail: romanganta@missouri.edu. Néstor Saúl Hernández-Milán, Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Baja California, Mexicali, Mexico, E-mail: nestorher.baja@gmail.com. Andrés M. López-Pérez, Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, Xalapa, Mexico, E-mail: amlope@ucdavis.edu. Irma Leticia J. Ruiz-González, Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, E-mail: apvletyruiz@gmail.com. Juan Edmundo Salinas-Aguirre, Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Coahuila, Saltillo, Mexico, E-mail: juan.salinas@me.com. Sokani Sánchez-Montes, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agrícolas, Región Poza Rica-Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Mexico, E-mail: sok10108@gmail.com. Óscar Tamez-Rivera, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Mexico, E-mail: o.tamez@gmail.com. David M. Wagner, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, E-mail: dave.wagner@nau.edu. David H. Walker, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mail: dwalker@utmb.edu.

Address correspondence to Gerardo Álvarez-Hernández, Universidad de Sonora, Blvd. Luis D. Colosio SN, col. Centro, Hermosillo C.P. 83000, Mexico. E-mail: gerardo.alvarez@unison.mx
Copyright:
© The author(s) 2024
Received:
21 Apr 2024
|
Accepted:
20 Jun 2024
|
Published Online:
17 Sep 2024
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 572 572 572
PDF Downloads 419 419 419
 
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save