Australian spotted fever

At a glance

No vaccine available – read more about prevention
Not nationally notifiable.

About Australian spotted fever

Australian spotted fever is caused by the Rickettsia honei subspecies marmionii bacterium, which is carried by the Haemaphysalis novaeguineae tick.

This tick species is found in northern Australia, but its range could extend along eastern to southern Australia, including South Australia and Tasmania.

It is part of a group of illnesses caused by Rickettsia bacteria, which includes other spotted fever infections and typhus infections. It causes similar symptoms to Queensland tick typhus and Flinders Island spotted fever.

Australian spotter fever is uncommon, with less than 10 known cases to date, but it has the potential to cause severe infection.

Why it matters to public health

Although it is rare and usually mild, Australian spotted fever can be hard to diagnose, as it mimics other illnesses. This can delay treatment.

Symptoms

Early symptoms are often non-specific, making diagnosis challenging.

Common symptoms include:

fever
headache
joint pain
muscle pain
rash
cough
nausea
sore throat
swollen glands
a scab at the site of the tick bite.

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Onset of symptoms

Symptoms can start from 5 days after getting infected.

How it spreads

Australian spotted fever is spread to humans through the bite of infected ticks after they have fed on an infected animal or person.

The tick species that spread Australian spotted fever – Haemaphysalis novaeguineae – is found on numerous animals.

Infectious period

Australian spotted fever does not spread between people.

People who have had Australian spotted fever are not likely to get infected again .

Prevention

There is no vaccine against Australian spotted fever.

The best protection is to prevent tick bites and correctly remove an attached tick. Never disturb the tick or try to remove it while it’s alive.

Priority groups and settings

People who regularly spend a lot of time outdoors are most at risk. It’s important to take steps to prevent tick bites.

People at greater risk of severe disease

There have been no known severe cases of Australian spotted fever, but it has the potential to cause severe infection.

People at greater risk of exposure

People are at greater risk of being exposed if they live, work or spend a lot of time outdoors – especially in grassy, bushy or wooded areas – in regions where infected ticks are found.

Peak season for Australian spotted fever is late summer and autumn, but it can occur at any time of year.

Diagnosis and treatment

Australian spotted fever is usually diagnosed through a blood test. Pathology testing is needed to differentiate from other rickettsial infections.

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Australian spotted fever is treated with antibiotics.

Read more about how to manage or treat Australian spotted fever.

Surveillance and reporting

Tick-borne rickettsial diseases, like Australian spotted fever, are not nationally notifiable diseases in Australia.

Health professionals must notify state authorities of cases of:

rickettsial infection in Western Australia
typhus (all types) in the Northern Territory
typhus (epidemic) in New South Wales.