Rickettsialpox

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Rickettsialpox is an illness caused by bacteria found in the Rickettsia family (Rickettsia akari), but humans contract the disease through a much less direct route. The bacteria is originally found in mice and cause mites feeding on the mice to become infected. Humans will get rickettsialpox when receiving a bite from an infected mite, not from the mice themselves.

The first sign to look for is a bump formed by the bite, eventually resulting in a black, crusty scab. Many of the symptoms are flu-like including fever, chills, weakness and achy muscles but the most distinctive symptom is the rash that breaks out, spanning the infected person's entire body.

Rickettsialpox is hardly fatal and there are no known deaths resulting from the disease.

Those dwelling in urban areas (which typically experience rodent problems) have a higher risk of contracting Rickettsialpox.

During the 2004-2005 school year, Bronx High School of Science located in The Bronx, New York experienced a Rickettsialpox outbreak.