Spatial and temporal behavior of rocky mountain spotted fever in Sinaloa, Mexico: study period 2015-2023

Motivation for the study. Vector-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever require constant monitoring of their spatial and temporal distribution patterns due to current climate change and atypical conditions. Main findings. Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs in Sinaloa throughout the year, with endemic peaks during March, May, and July. In the municipality of Badiraguato, a relative risk of 6.89 was determined. Implications for public health. The results of this study show that there are municipalities in the state of Sinaloa with a higher risk of contracting Rocky Mountain spotted fever, so the Sinaloa Ministry of Health could implement prevention and health education programs to reduce the risk in these municipalities.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, whose vector and natural reservoir is the tick. However, dogs play an important role in the transmission of this disease. This study aimed to determine the spatial and temporal behavior of RMSF in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. Information was obtained from the RMSF cases reported during the period 2015-2023, and the temporal and spatial behavior was determined using an endemic channel and the SCAN statistic. The highest RMSF prevalence rate was determined in Escuinapa with 9.6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. Regarding temporal behavior, three endemic peaks were detected in March, May, and July, and three RMSF clusters were identified, with the main cluster located in the municipality of Ahome with a relative risk of 4.9.

Motivation for the study. Vector-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever require constant monitoring of their spatial and temporal distribution patterns due to current climate change and atypical conditions. Main findings. Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs in Sinaloa throughout the year, with endemic peaks during March, May, and July. In the municipality of Badiraguato, a relative risk of 6.89 was determined. Implications for public health. The results of this study show that there are municipalities in the state of Sinaloa with a higher risk of contracting Rocky Mountain spotted fever, so the Sinaloa Ministry of Health could implement prevention and health education programs to reduce the risk in these municipalities.