Fatal Israeli spotted fever in a UK traveler to South Portugal

Abstract

A 63-year-old previously healthy woman developed a severe systemic infection 5 days after returning from a holiday to Southern Portugal. She subsequently died, and polymerase chain reaction of a blood sample was positive for Rickettsia conorii ssp israeliensis. The prevalence of severe forms of this illness in the Mediterranean Basin is discussed. © 2008 International Society of Travel Medicine.