The Ultimate Guide to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Kentucky
What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
07/23/2025
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
07/23/2025
Kentucky presents a range of summertime threats, including heat exhaustion and sunburn, as well as pest threats such as snakes and yellowjackets. But there’s a much smaller, trickier, and potentially more dangerous threat lurking just outside your home, and practically anywhere else you go in nature: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
For decades, RMSF was something your family only heard about from someone who traveled frequently. Virtually no Kentuckians contracted the disease inside Kentucky. That’s all changed now as tick encounters and tick-borne illnesses have skyrocketed, making it crucial to be alert and to learn as many facts about ticks as you can. The more you know, the safer you are!
Despite the name, this tick-borne illness isn’t confined to the Rocky Mountains. In fact, cases are on the incline right here in Kentucky, making it crucial for residents to understand the risks, symptoms, how to protect themselves by avoiding infection, and the need for proactive tick control.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a potentially severe, sometimes fatal disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. It’s transmitted primarily through the bite of infected ticks. In the southeastern U.S., including Kentucky, the most common culprit is the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). However, other species like the brown dog tick and Lone Star tick have also been known to carry the disease. The blacklegged tick has not yet been discovered to transmit RMSF.
Once inside the body, R. rickettsii spreads through the bloodstream, attacking the lining of blood vessels, which leads to inflammation, tissue damage, and, if left untreated, serious complications, including organ failure. RMSF may not necessarily be worse than Lyme disease or Alpha-Gal, but it is dangerous in its own right.
Kentucky is not a national hotspot for RMSF, but it does experience several cases annually, particularly during the warmer months when tick activity is highest. The last available recorded numbers of RMSF in Kentucky are from 2017 and include 250 cases. That number has been steadily increasing.
Rural areas with high grass, forest edges, and trails are the most likely environments for tick exposure. Children, outdoor workers, hunters, campers, hikers, and pet owners are especially at risk.
What’s concerning is that RMSF can escalate quickly and become life-threatening if not treated early. The CDC notes that the fatality rate can be as high as 20-25% in untreated cases, though early antibiotic treatment (typically doxycycline) is highly effective.
Symptoms usually begin 5 to 10 days after a tick bite. Early signs can easily be mistaken for other common illnesses, which is why awareness is critical.
Early symptoms may include:
Later-stage symptoms:
Important: Not all patients develop a rash. This can delay diagnosis, which increases the risk of complications.
RMSF is spread only through tick bites, not from person to person. The tick must be attached and feeding for at least 6–10 hours, though the longer it feeds, the higher the risk of disease transmission. There are several ticks in Kentucky, but only a few are known to carry RMSF.
Ticks most likely to spread RMSF in Kentucky:
Ticks don’t jump or fly; they wait on tall grass, shrubs, or leaf litter and latch onto passing hosts, including people and pets.
The best way to avoid Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is to avoid tick bites in the first place. That can be partially accomplished by practicing some personal protection measures. Here’s how to do that in Kentucky’s tick-friendly environments:
Four Seasons Pest Solutions helps Kentucky families reduce their risk of tick-borne illnesses by treating the outdoor environments where ticks are most prevalent. Our tick control services target:
We offer integrated pest management (IPM) solutions designed for Kentucky’s landscape, safe for your family and pets, and effective against ticks, fleas, and other outdoor pests. We tackle ticks right in your yard and make it safe for you and your pets!
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is rare but serious, and Kentuckians should be proactive in preventing tick bites, especially from April to October when tick activity peaks. Through smart prevention strategies, a little knowledge of how to get rid of ticks, and expert pest control, you can enjoy the outdoors without fear.
If you live in Kentucky and you’re concerned about ticks in your yard or near your pets, Four Seasons Pest Solutions is here to help. We offer several options for long-term tick control and prevention that will leave you happy and virtually tick-free! Let us make your outdoor spaces safer and healthier, so you can get back to enjoying them.
📞 Call us today for a tick inspection or tick control treatment.
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
1399 East Hwy 452
Eubank, KY 42567
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606-677-2437
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