United States-Mexico Research Articles

Neighbourhood Deprivation and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Arizona From the AzPEARS Study.

The maternal population residing in rural areas, tribal lands or near the United States-Mexico border are at high risk for adverse pregnancy complications, notably gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Few studies have considered the socioeconomic status (SES) attributes of neighbourhoods on maternal health during gestation. Given that the national and global rate of GDM is rising, this analysis moves beyond individual-level factors and investigates the role of neighbourhood deprivation on GDM risk. To investigate the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and risk of GDM using Arizona state birth records. This population-based study of singleton live births (N = 481,113) utilised birth certificates from 2014 to 2020 from the AzPEARS study. Using American Community Survey (5-year data) linked to 2010 US Census tracts, a composite neighbourhood deprivation index (NDI) score (continuous and quartiles) was derived from 8 socioeconomic indicators. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to examine the association between NDI and GDM risk, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, race/ethnicity, parity, rurality, and birth year. The state-wide incidence of GDM was 7.8% (n = 37,636) with variation by neighbourhoods (4% to 12%). GDM risk was highest for Native Americans (17.6%), Asian/Pacific Islanders (13.7%) and Hispanic/Latinas (8.3%). Compared to mothers living in areas with the lowest quartile of NDI, mothers living in neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation had an adjusted risk ratio of 1.21 for developing GDM (95% CI 1.18, 1.26). We observed that neighbourhood deprivation was positively associated with a higher risk of GDM for each increase in quartile. These results suggest that NDI, a proxy for neighbourhood socioeconomic status, may contribute to GDM risk. Identifying high-risk neighbourhoods for place-based interventions targeting the most vulnerable birthing populations may be an effective strategy in the prevention of GDM.

Development of an operational trap for collection, killing, and preservation of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): the kissing bug kill trap.

Surveillance of triatomines or kissing bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), the insect vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, a Chagas disease agent, is hindered by the lack of an effective trap. To develop a kissing bug trap, we made iterative improvements over 3 years on a basic design resulting in 7 trap prototypes deployed across field sites in Texas, United States and Northern Mexico, yielding the capture of 325 triatomines of 4 species (Triatoma gerstaeckeri [Stål], T. sanguisuga [LeConte], T. neotomae [Neiva], and T. rubida [Uhler]). We began in 2019 with vertical transparent tarpaulin panel traps illuminated with artificial light powered by AC current, which were successful in autonomous trapping of flying triatomines, but were expensive, labor-intensive, and fragile. In 2020, we switched to white LED lights powered by a solar cell. We tested a scaled-down version of the vertical panel traps, a commercial cross-vane trap, and a multiple-funnel trap. The multiple-funnel traps captured 2.6× more kissing bugs per trap-day than cross-vane traps and approached the performance of the vertical panel traps in number of triatomines captured, number of triatomines per trap-day and triatomines per arthropod bycatch. Multiple-funnel traps required the least labor, were more durable, and had the highest triatomines per day per cost. Propylene glycol in the collection cups effectively preserved captured triatomines allowing for molecular detection of T. cruzi. The trapping experiments established dispersal patterns for the captured species. We conclude that multiple-funnel traps with solar-powered LED lights should be considered for adoption as surveillance and potentially mass-trapping management tools for triatomines.

De Viva voz: An Intersectional Approach to Assessing Student Experience and Fostering Equity at HSIs

ABSTRACT This research project outlines students’ perceptions of belonging, equity, visibility, representation, and culture at their Hispanic Serving Institution. In Latin America, the saying “De viva voz,” emphasizes acknowledging voz [voice]. Through an intersectional framework, this work acknowledges students’ voices, identities, and lived experiences as foundational to identify the barriers at an HSI at the Mexico-United States borderlands region. In doing so, we are able to propose a series of strategies that respond to the cultural context of the university, and the needs of students in order to eliminate structural barriers. Further, this paper explores what it means to be an HSI and the tenuous relationship between Hispanic culture and students at a US university. The implications of this research project add to the body of the literature that challenges homogeneous notions and conceptualizations of HSIs limited to enrollment of Hispanic and Latinx students. In doing so, “De viva voz” names and challenges the historical forms of discrimination and erasure that Latinx, students of color and other minoritized populations have endured in university settings. Moreover, this work models student-centered research practices for other Hispanic Serving Institutions interested in promoting intersectional practices to improve campus climate and foster belonging, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Conceptual Framework for Community-Based Prevention of Brown Dog Tick-Associated Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe tickborne disease that can reach epidemic proportions in communities with certain social and ecologic risk factors. In some areas, the case-fatality rate of brown dog tick-associated RMSF is up to 50%. Because of the spread of brown dog tick-associated RMSF in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the disease has the potential to emerge and become endemic in other communities that have large populations of free-roaming dogs, brown dog ticks, limited resources, and low provider awareness of the disease. By using a One Health approach, interdisciplinary teams can identify communities at risk and prevent severe or fatal RMSF in humans before cases occur. We have developed a conceptual framework for RMSF prevention to enable communities to identify their RMSF risk level and implement prevention and control strategies.

Buzzing towards Resilience: Investigating the Spatial Alignment of the Desert Pallid Bee, Centris pallida, and Its Host Plants in Response to Climate Change.

Wild bees are vital for the pollination of native plants and crops, providing essential ecosystem services. Climate change is known to impact biodiversity and species distributions, but insects adapted to desert ecosystems may exhibit unique physiological, behavioral, and evolutionary responses. The desert pallid bee (C. pallida), a solitary bee native to the arid southwestern United States and northern Mexico, primarily forages on yellow palo verde (P. microphylla), blue palo verde (P. florida), and desert ironwood (O. tesota). This study used MaxEnt to estimate the current and projected geographical overlap of suitable habitats for C. pallida and its host plants. Here, we used MaxEnt to estimate the current and forecasted overlapping geographically suitable habitat of C. pallida with all three host plants. We forecasted potential environmentally suitable areas for each species to the year 2040 using the current distribution model and climate projections with moderate CO2 levels. We found a continued spatial alignment in the suitable area of the bee and its host plants with a 70% increase in the range overlap area, though shifted to higher average altitudes and a slight northern expansion. These findings may provide insight to stakeholders on the conservation needs of desert-dwelling pollinators.

Disparities in Testicular Cancer: A Review of the Literature.

Background: Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in adolescents and young adults, and evidence has emerged regarding disparities that affect different groups of patients. Methods: In this article, we conducted a thorough review of this area and summarized the existing literature. Results: Some of the pertinent findings from our review include poorer outcomes for various groups including the native Māori population of New Zealand, those who live in the United States-Mexico border region, those who live in Eastern Europe, those who are uninsured and those with poorer socioeconomic status, amongst others. In the United States specifically, there is significant evidence showing that racial/ethnic minorities, compared to white patients, tend to fare worse with later presentation at higher stages and worse survival rates. Hispanic patients in particular appear to have the potential for more aggressive tumor biology than other groups and are projected to have the highest incidence rates in the US by 2026. Conclusions: Overall, disparities exist in many aspects of testicular cancer and are striking in some instances, and further research is needed in this arena and in potential solutions.

Generational Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Completion for Americans of Mexican Decent Living along the United States-Mexico Border Region.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake variation remains a significant barrier to overcoming the spread of COVID-19. Individual beliefs/attitudes about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine vary significantly across generations due to personal experiences, access to accurate information, education levels, political beliefs, and trust in healthcare systems. Methods: This analysis used data from the baseline visit of Project 2VIDA!, a cohort of Americans of Mexican descent (AoDM) and African American individuals (n = 1052) in San Diego, CA, along the U.S.-Mexico border region. The survey assessed sociodemographics, healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and trust in public health information/SARS-CoV-2 prevention. We conducted a logistic regression involving AoDM individuals to identify generational factors associated with completing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Results: The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that Generation X (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.33-0.82), Millennials (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14-0.41), and Generation Z (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.05-0.22) were less likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series when compared to Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. Conclusions: Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 testing and trust in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were significantly more likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Efforts to address vaccine series completion should be tailored to the specific concerns and motivations of different age groups.

How Migrants Experience Information Uncertainty and Vulnerability: Lessons for (Dis)information Studies

This article develops a phenomenological approach to examine the intersection of global migration and rising concerns about disinformation. Drawing on interviews with Venezuelans en route to the United States-Mexico border through Central America, the article analyzes how undocumented migrants live amid information precarity, how they relate to disinformation, and how disinformation affects their decisions. We demonstrate the centrality of information and communication practices in managing (dis)information during the migration experience. This includes distrusting traditional media, using various platforms like social media and messaging apps, and exchanging both information and disinformation with others. By adopting a phenomenological approach, the article demonstrates that migrants’ relationship with (dis)information is shaped by their conviction that each person has unique life experiences and a profoundly religious view of life and destiny. The article thus advocates for a deeper exploration of migrants’ sociocultural beliefs rather than focusing solely on issues such as information accuracy, accessibility, flows, and platforms when accounting for disinformation. In addition to valuable lessons for (dis)information studies, this approach could enrich communication interventions tailored to migrant communities in vulnerable conditions.

Assembly and annotation of a chromosome-level reference genome for the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius).

Advancements in genome sequencing technology have brought unprecedented accessibility of high-throughput sequencing to species of conservation interest. The potential knowledge gained from application of these techniques is maximized by availability of high-quality, annotated reference genomes for endangered species. However, these vital resources are often lacking for endangered minnows of North America (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae). One such endangered species, Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), is the largest North American minnow and the top-level native aquatic predator in the Colorado River Basin of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Over the past century, Colorado pikeminnow has suffered habitat loss and population declines due to anthropogenic habitat modifications and invasive species introductions. The lack of genetic resources for Colorado pikeminnow has hindered conservation genomic study of this unique organism. This study seeks to remedy this issue by presenting a high-quality reference genome for Colorado pikeminnow developed from Pacific Biosciences HiFi sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding. The final assembly was a 1.1 Gb genome comprised of 305 contigs including 25 chromosome-sized scaffolds. Measures of quality, contiguity, and completeness met or exceeded those observed for Danio rerio (Danionidae) and 2 other Colorado River Basin leuciscids (Meda fulgida and Tiaroga cobitis). Comparative genomic analyses identified enrichment of gene families for growth, development, immune activity, and gene transcription; all of which are important for a large-bodied piscivorous fish living in a dynamic environment. This reference genome will provide a basis for important conservation genomic study of Colorado pikeminnow and help efforts to better understand the evolution of desert fishes.

Onset and tempo of ignimbrite flare-up volcanism in the eastern and central Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, southern New Mexico, USA

The Cenozoic ignimbrite flare-up (40–18 Ma) generated multiple volcanic fields in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico resulting from asthenospheric mantle upwelling after removal of the Farallon slab. The correlation of tuffs to one another and to source calderas within these volcanic fields is essential for determining spatiotemporal patterns in volcanism and magma geochemistry, which have been used to deduce migration of the Farallon slab at depth and associated mantle melting. However, the correlation of Eocene–Oligocene tuffs in the southwestern U.S. is difficult because of post-emplacement erosion and faulting. This study focuses on spatiotemporal patterns of the initial episode of ignimbrite flare-up activity (ca. 36.5–33.8 Ma) in the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field in south-central New Mexico, USA. We show that alkali feldspar major and trace element geochemistry is an effective tool for correlating tuffs when combined with high-precision, single-crystal 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and bulk-rock geochemistry. Using these data, we correlate several tuff units and differentiate other tuffs that have the same eruption age but very different geochemistry, and we conclude that there was a broadly northwestward migration in volcanism over time. The new tuff correlations are used to investigate spatiotemporal variations in magma geochemistry, erupted volumes, and recurrence intervals during the initial episode of Mogollon-Datil volcanic field volcanism. Early-erupted tuffs restricted to the eastern Mogollon-Datil volcanic field share similarities with western U.S. topaz rhyolites, which suggests that the silicic magmas were generated by partial melting of mafic lower crustal rocks. We also find differences in the compositions, crystallinities, and mineral assemblages between the early- and late-erupted tuffs. The early-erupted tuffs tend to have single-feldspar mineralogies, lower feldspar Or contents, large negative Eu anomalies, and low-whole–rock Ba concentrations. Conversely, late-erupted tuffs have two feldspar plus quartz assemblages, lesser Eu anomalies, higher whole-rock Ba concentrations, and feldspars have higher Or contents. Thus, we suggest that for some of the early eruptions, after magmas underwent crystal fractionation in the crust, the silicic melt largely separated from the crystalline mush prior to eruption, whereas late-erupted tuff magmas underwent crystal fractionation at near the eutectic minimum and were remobilized and erupted with a larger proportion of their crystalline mush. Using our new ages, correlations, and previously published data, we find that the initial phase of Mogollon-Datil volcanic field volcanism produced at least 15 eruptions between 36.5 Ma and 33.8 Ma, with a minimum total erupted volume of ~1350 km3 and an average recurrence interval of 170 k.y. However, eruptions were generally smaller in volume (most <15 km3) than in other coeval fields, and most eruptions (n = 11) occurred in the first 1.2 m.y. (ca. 36.5–35.3 Ma) of activity. Altogether, our work sheds new light on variations in the composition, timing, and migration of volcanism during the initial phase of Mogollon-Datil volcanic field activity and highlights the utility of feldspar geochemistry in both “fingerprinting” tuffs and elucidating magma evolution.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Infants in Texas by Facility Children's Surgery Verification Status

IntroductionThe American College of Surgeons Children's Surgery Verification (CSV) status recognizes hospitals that deliver high-quality pediatric surgical care. Texas has 5 CSV centers in three cities, which may limit equitable access to care. We explored the characteristics and outcomes of infants admitted in Texas as a function of facility CSV status. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed a state-wide hospital discharge database (2013-2021). All patients <1 y of age were included. Patients transferred to an outside hospital were excluded to avoid double counting. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were performed. ResultsWe analyzed 3,617,173 admissions, with 211,278 (6%) treated at CSV centers. CSV admissions were less likely to be inborn (46% versus 93%) and more likely to be transfers (16% versus 1%). CSV centers also had sicker patients (32% versus 13% extreme illness severity) with higher mortality rates (1% versus 0%), longer length of stay (9 ± 22 versus 4 ± 9), and higher operative rates (33% versus 20%). However, mortality was lower at CSV centers when matched for illness severity. Proportionately more patients from rural counties (9% versus 4%) and counties along the United States-Mexico border (13% versus 1%), as well as patients of Hispanic ethnicity (39% versus 33%), were treated at non-CSV centers. Meanwhile, proportionately more African Americans (21% versus 11%) were treated at CSV centers. ConclusionsCSV centers are associated with improved outcomes among patients with high illness severity. Population differences among patients treated at CSV centers compared to non-CSV centers may represent disparities in access to care and warrant further evaluation.

Colonialism, Racism, and Childhoods: Introduction

Over the past two decades, pressing questions around childhood, age, difference, and power have traversed the multidisciplinary study of childhood, and have come to overlap increasingly with writings on colonialism. While children remain relatively under-analyzed across this scholarship, children and notions of childhood are always implicated in colonialism and its vestiges. Moreover, legacies of colonialism shape the images of children who dominate headlines today, from cruel policies which separate migrant children from their families at the United States—Mexico border, to Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children, to young climate activists who have mobilized around the globe. Our special issue explores questions around colonialism and childhood, and specifically their processes of racialization; and argues for a general practice of decolonizing the study of childhood. The authors—representing several disciplines and regions—have contributed essays which cover two broad themes. The first three articles speak to histories of colonialism and their entwinement with childhood, and the challenges actors face in attempting to reckon with those histories. The next three articles take up discussions concerning childhood as a colonialist racialized concept, and pose questions about who is deserving of care and whose care should be recognized as good for children. Our queries recognize the important work already being done by childhood studies scholars, invite newer researchers to the field to consider childist concerns, and welcome all to imagine futures beyond our present crises.

The end of Mexico–US migration as we knew it – or back to the future?

Over the last decade, scholars have declared the collapse of the Mexico–US system of undocumented migration. The H2 visa programme, a regime of managed sojourning is replacing the system of unauthorized cross-border mobility. In fiscal year 2023, the US government issued nearly 370,000 H2 temporary work visas to Mexicans. This temporary migrant labour programme is also bringing back circulation, temporary legal stays, and mostly male cross-border mobility – features that are akin to the old Bracero Program (1942–64). We contend that the restoration of these legal and sociodemographic dynamics undermines critical pillars of the system of undocumented labour mobility, limiting and reorienting the role of social networks, and potentially ending the way Mexico–United States has functioned for the past half century. We use ethnographic, interview and survey data to analyse the expansion of this new regime of highly mediated cross-border mobility, the ascent of the brokerage apparatus, and its effect transforming the social infrastructure of migration. We ask, specifically, how does the H2 temporary migrant labour programme constrain and diminish kin and hometown-based social networks, previously seen as ‘the engine of migration’? How does the shift from migrant networks to a brokerage apparatus impact trust, reciprocity and the development of migratory social capital? How is the new regime changing the experience of migration – substituting risk and adventure for certainty and routinized movement? How does the H2 temporary migrant labour programme revert the locus of social reproduction of the labour force back to sending communities, preempting integration at the destination? We frame the answers to these questions in the emerging migration industry and infrastructures paradigm, which examines to the role of migrant and non-migrant actors in the facilitation, control and overall mediation and structuring of cross-border mobility.

Caravanas in Tijuana: A Qualitative Account of Women in the 2018 Central American Migrant Caravans

Social conditions force migrants to pursue mass mobilization and transit through Latin America to the Mexico-United States border. Mainstream media continues to sensationalize the migrant caravans. Research concerning the experiences of individuals in caravans remains underdeveloped. A question remains about how women experience transit in a mass caravan migration. This study uses a migrant feminist standpoint to capture women's perspectives within the 2018 Central American migrant caravans. In 2019, a qualitative analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews with migrant participants primarily from Central America and fieldwork observation was conducted in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Caravans provide a realistic alternative avenue for migration. Migration is a gendered process where women resist state violence. Reaching the Tijuana border is a success, but it comes at a detrimental cost for women, including experiencing deception, social class inequalities, and distrust. Humanitarian responses to the migrant caravans benefit from adopting a gender-conscious action-based practice.

Interstitial Lung Disease Mortality Disparities Along the US-Mexico Border, 1999-2020

BackgroundOptimal diagnosis and management of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) needs access to specialized centers, frequent monitoring, and complex therapeutic options. In underprivileged areas, these necessities can often lead to barriers in delivering care. Research QuestionWhat are the ILD mortality disparities in the regions along the United States-Mexico (US-MX) border? Study Design and MethodsWe obtained ILD mortality information through death certificate queries from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention repository. Death data were adjusted for age and stratified by US-MX border regions and non-border regions in the US. Log-linear regression models were utilized to analyze mortality trends in the period from 1999 to 2020 followed by calculation of annual percentage changes (APC). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were compared across cumulative and sub-demographic populations. ResultsILD-related mortality among border regions (AAMR 5.31) was higher compared to non-border regions (AAMR 4.86). Mortality within border regions remained unchanged from 1999 to 2020 (APC +0.3, p=0.269). Non-border regions experienced a significant rise in mortality rates (APC +2.6, p=0.017) from 1999 to 2005 and remained unchanged from 2005 to 2020. Mortality was higher within both men (AAMR 6.57) and women (AAMR 4.36) populations among border regions compared to their non-border counterparts (AAMR 6.27 and 3.87, respectively). Hispanic populations among the border regions experienced higher mortality rates (AAMR 6.15) compared to Hispanic populations within non-border regions (AAMR 5.44). Non-Hispanic populations encountered similar mortality rates between the two regions. Mortality rates among Hispanic (APC +0.0, p=0.938) and non-Hispanic (APC +0.2, p=0.531) populations in the border regions remained unchanged from 1999 to 2020. InterpretationThese results revealed ILD-related mortality disparities among the US-MX border regions, emphasizing the importance of public health measures to increase access to equitable medical care and implement targeted interventions among these vulnerable populations.

Characterizing Breastfeeding Intentions Among Latina Women in a Rural County on the United States-Mexico Border

Characterizing Breastfeeding Intentions Among Latina Women in a Rural County on the United States-Mexico Border

Environmental and structural factors associated with bacterial diversity in household dust across the Arizona-Sonora border

We previously reported that asthma prevalence was higher in the United States (US) compared to Mexico (MX) (25.8% vs. 8.4%). This investigation assessed differences in microbial dust composition in relation to demographic and housing characteristics on both sides of the US–MX Border. Forty homes were recruited in the US and MX. Home visits collected floor dust and documented occupants’ demographics, asthma prevalence, housing structure, and use characteristics. US households were more likely to have inhabitants who reported asthma when compared with MX households (30% vs. 5%) and had significantly different flooring types. The percentage of households on paved roads, with flushing toilets, with piped water and with air conditioning was higher in the US, while dust load was higher in MX. Significant differences exist between countries in the microbial composition of the floor dust. Dust from Mexican homes was enriched with Alishewanella, Paracoccus, Rheinheimera genera and Intrasporangiaceae family. A predictive metagenomics analysis identified 68 significantly differentially abundant functional pathways between US and MX. This study documented multiple structural, environmental, and demographic differences between homes in the US and MX that may contribute to significantly different microbial composition of dust observed in these two countries.

Trade Dilemma of Global Hegemony: Analyzing the Transition in US Trade Policy from Globalization Deals to Hybrid Deals

This paper presents an analysis framework of the trade dilemma faced by global hegemony. It argues that maintaining global hegemony and addressing domestic conflicts simultaneously is a challenging task. Since the 1980s, the United States has prioritized the expansion of transnational capital, often at the expense of domestic vulnerable industries and the interests of low-skilled workers. This unbalanced development has led to intensified social contradictions within the United States. To resolve these conflicts, the US has shifted from reciprocal globalization deals to self-interested hybrid deals, aiming to uphold the interests of transnational capital while also addressing the concerns of workers. The negotiation experiences of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) demonstrate this mode of the US trade policy. While this strategy may repair the domestic political foundation, it leads to new challenges for the US, such as discontent and resistance from the international community, or encountering difficulties in promoting cooperation with US trading partners. These challenges will pose a threat to the long-term stability of the international economic order.

Pediatric Injuries Sustained on the United States-Mexico Border Fence in El Paso.

Pediatric Injuries Sustained on the United States-Mexico Border Fence in El Paso.

The emergence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico requires a binational One Health approach.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an international and quintessential One Health problem. This paper synthesizes recent knowledge in One Health, binational RMSF concerns, and veterinary and human medical perspectives to this fatal, reemerging problem. RMSF, a life-threatening tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, emerged during the first decade of the 21st century in impoverished communities in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Lack of an index of suspicion, delay in diagnosis, and delayed initiation of antibiotic treatment contribute to fatality. Campaigns targeting dog neutering, restraint to residents' properties, and on-dog and on-premises treatment with acaricides temporarily reduce prevalence but are often untenable economically. Contemporary Mexican RMSF is hyperendemic in small communities and cities, whereas epidemics occur in the western US primarily in small tribal communities. In in both locations, the epidemics are fueled by free-roaming dogs and massive brown dog tick populations. In the US, RMSF has a case fatality rate of 5% to 7%; among thousands of annual cases in Mexico, case fatality often exceeds 30%.1,2 Numerous case patients in US border states have recent travel histories to northern Mexico. Veterinarians and physicians should alert the public to RMSF risk, methods of prevention, and the importance of urgent treatment with doxycycline if symptomatic. One Health professionals contribute ideas to manage ticks and rickettsial disease and provide broad education for the public and medical professionals. Novel management approaches include vaccine development and deployment, acaricide resistance monitoring, and modeling to guide targeted dog population management and other interventions.