4-Year-Old Ada Girl Dies Of Tick Disease

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A 4-year-old Ada girl has died of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. <br/><br/>The state Health Department says Katarina Wheat died April 30th from the disease spread by ticks. <br/><br/>She's

Monday, May 15th 2006, 2:15 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A 4-year-old Ada girl has died of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The state Health Department says Katarina Wheat died April 30th from the disease spread by ticks.

She's the first Oklahoman to die of Rocky Mountain spotted fever since 1994 although three people in the state died of other tick-borne diseases in 2003.

Ticks can infect humans if they remain attached to the body for two hours or more.

The disease can be treated with antibiotics if started within the first four or five days after onset of the illness.

Public health officials say anyone working, hiking or camping in wooded or brush-filled areas should use a tick repellent and examine themselves two or three times a day for ticks.