A 35-year-old Columbus man is recovering from a bout with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a rare disease passed around by ticks.

Brian Aerni went through days of dizzying headaches, flu-like symptoms and a fever that reached 103 degrees.

Aerni said doctors told him repeatedly it was just a virus. He went to the hospital July 24 and stayed three days.

He finally went to an infection disease specialist in Omaha and was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be fatal.

Aerni was treated with antibiotics and released Thursday. He was told it could take up to a year to fully recover.