Lyme Disease

Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness

Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) is an illness transmitted to humans by tick bites.  It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia lonestari.  Individuals infected with STARI develop a bull’s-eye rash exactly like the rash associated with Lyme disease.  Infected persons may also develop mild symptoms consisting of fatigue, headache, stiff neck, or fever.  STARI is often treated with a short course of the antibiotic doxycycline.  These symptoms may indicate a different tick-borne disease, but STARI itself does not appear to be serious or potentially fatal.

Carried by:

• Lone Star Tick

For more information on Southern Tick-Associate Rash Illness:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/index.htm

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