Oklahoma woman Jo Rogers loses arms, legs after tick bite

A tiny tick bite caused a woman to lose both arms and both legs. 

An Oklahoma mother of two was fighting for her life days after a tick transmitted Rocky Mountain spotted fever, KOCO reported.

It all started after a trip to a lake. Four days after the vacation, Jo Rogers thought she had the flu. Day five, she was rushed to the hospital. A few days later, her organs were shutting down and her arms and feet were tuing blue and black. 

 

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is named for the rash it causes. The bloodboe illness affects vessels and leads to amputations to prevent its spread to central organs. Above, a photo from the CBC of the rash

A week earlier, a tick that was a carrier of the fever had apparently bitten Rogers.

Doctors amputated her legs, one below the knee, and her arms at the elbows to prevent the infection from spreading through her body, saving her life. 

Family told KOCO that Rogers is lucky to be alive

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick and brown dog tick are carriers for the disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle pain. A rash may develop also.