Flinders Island spotted fever

At a glance

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

About Flinders Island spotted fever

Flinders Island spotted fever is caused by the Rickettsia honei bacterium, which is carried by the southern reptile tick Bothriocroton hydrosauri.

This tick species is found in:

Flinders Island
Tasmania
south-eastern Australia
south-western coastal regions of Western Australia on Salisbury Island and in Walpole
south-eastern coastal regions of South Australia near Adelaide.

Flinders Island spotted fever 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 Australian spotted fever.

For most people, Flinders Island spotted fever is mild, but it can be serious and cause severe illness.

Why it matters to public health

Flinders Island spotted fever can be hard to diagnose, as it mimics other illnesses. This can delay treatment.

Although it is usually mild, if not treated early, symptoms can persist for a few weeks before resolving. Complications can require hospitalisation, and, rarely, cause death.

Symptoms

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

Common symptoms include:

fever
headache
fatigue
muscle pain
joint pain
rash with both raised and flat lesions
cough.

Complications can include:

severe pneumonia
neurological symptoms, such as confusion, unsteady gait and seizures
severe vasculitis
severe vessel thrombosis
necrosis.

healthdirect’s symptom checker can help you decide whether to see a health professional.

Check your symptoms

Onset of symptoms

Symptoms usually start between 7 to 14 days after getting infected.

How it spreads

Flinders Island spotted fever spreads to humans through the bite of infected ticks after they have fed on an infected animal or person.

The tick species that spreads Flinders Island spotted fever – Bothriocroton hydrosauri – is found on reptiles, including lizards, snakes, and terrestrial turtles. It also feeds on humans, cattle and horses.

Infectious period

Flinders Island spotted fever does not spread between people.

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

Prevention

There is no vaccine against Flinders Island 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

Those at greater risk of severe disease include:

older people
people who are immunocompromised
people whose treatment is delayed.

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 Flinders Island spotted fever is spring and summer, but it can occur at any time of year.

Diagnosis and treatment

Flinders Island spotted fever is usually diagnosed through a blood test.

You can use healthdirect’s directory to find a health service near you.

Find a health service

Flinders Island spotted fever is treated with antibiotics.

Read more about how to manage or treat Flinders Island spotted fever.

Surveillance and reporting

Tick-borne rickettsial diseases, like Flinders Island spotted fever, are not nationally notifiable diseases in Australia, but health professionals must notify state authorities of cases of:

Flinders Island spotted fever in Tasmania
rickettsial infection in Western Australia
typhus (all types) in the Northern Territory
typhus (epidemic) in New South Wales.