Short report: Race and rickettsiae: a United States perspective

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Dec;85(6):1124-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0462.

Abstract

US surveillance programs for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis collect demographic data on patients, including race and ethnicity. Reporting of these diseases among race groups is not uniform across the United States. Because a laboratory confirmation is required to meet the national surveillance case definition, reporting may be influenced by a patient's access to healthcare. Determining the association between race and ethnicity with incidence of rickettsial infections requires targeted, active surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Health Status Disparities
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Odds Ratio
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Population Surveillance
  • Racial Groups / statistics & numerical data*
  • Rickettsiaceae Infections / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology