São Paulo Sees Alarming 94.4% Fatality Rate for Spotted Fever in 2026

The São Paulo State Health Secretariat (SES-SP) has reported 19 confirmed cases and 18 deaths from spotted fever in 2026, resulting in a stark 94.4% fatality rate. This figure is significantly higher than the 72% lethality observed in 2025, when 61 cases led to 44 deaths. Confirmed infection sites in 2026 have been identified in the Piracicaba, Campinas, Sorocaba, Santo André, and São José dos Campos epidemiological surveillance regions, with the remaining cases under investigation. A recent death in São Bernardo do Campo, involving a 43-year-old woman who passed away in March, has heightened concerns about the disease, which is transmitted by ticks. Health officials attribute the high mortality rate to patients delaying medical attention and potential misdiagnosis by physicians unaware of a patient's exposure to tick-infested areas. Spotted fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Rickettsia bacterium, transmitted by ticks such as the 'carrapato-estrela'. Symptoms include sudden fever, headache, body aches, extreme fatigue, and a rash that typically appears between the third and fifth day of illness, starting on the wrists and ankles and spreading. Prevention strategies emphasize avoiding tick-infested areas, wearing protective clothing in high-risk regions, and regularly inspecting skin and pets for ticks, removing them promptly without crushing. Early medical treatment is crucial for increasing survival chances.