Texas Health Officials Identify Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Risk in Urban Areas
A resident in Austin, Texas, discovered a tick attached to their ankle, which was later identified as Ornithodoros turicata, a species known to carry Borrelia turicatae, the bacterium responsible for soft tick-borne relapsing fever (STRF). The Texas Department of State Health Services and Baylor College of Medicine confirmed the tick's capability to transmit the bacteria. This case, reported in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, highlights the potential risk of STRF in urban settings, expanding the perceived threat beyond rural areas. The patient experienced symptoms such as high fever, chills, and facial paralysis, leading to multiple hospital visits before the tick was identified as the source. 
