Buffalo boy recovering from Rocky Mountain spotted fever, family shares warning

One-year-old Gino Pahl has been in the intensive care unit for the last week under sedation fighting Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a rare tick-borne infection caused by a common wood tick.

"It’s so new a lot of the people we meet [at the hospital] say they have never seen a case here," said Gino’s mother, Shelby Pahl.

The infection is most common across the central U.S. from the Carolinas to Kansas, but it is suspected Gino picked it up in a new development in Buffalo, which also happens to be his backyard.

"We don’t live in a wooded area, we don’t live in northern Minnesota," his mother said. "Tt’s just an open field, a farm field.

A 104-degree fever and a rash initially led to a hand, foot and mouth disease diagnosis, but after Gino continued to deteriorate, he was rushed to Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Pahl says Gino is also battling mononucleosis, pneumonia and other infections related to the tick, but thanks to many medications, he is getting better. His older sister Bella also developed a high fever and rash and is being treated for the same infection.

"She has no life-threatening risk at this moment, so she will be tested in four to six weeks to see," Pahl said. "And then that raises a bigger question: was it the same tick, or is it multiple ticks? They did say the Centers for Disease Control may come out and kind of research the area to see what is going on."

This family is sharing their story to raise awareness, knowing this frightening disease can be deadly, especially for young children.

"My neighborhood is not a traditional tick neighborhood," Pahl said. "I just want people to be aware."

Gino will still need to be hospitalized for at least a week after he gets out of the ICU. As for Bella, the family will get her tested in four to six weeks to find out if she, too, has Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The family has set up a Go Fund Me page and has vowed to pay Gino’s medical bills, and then give the rest to Children’s Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health is aware of the case and is investigating.