Dear Marti. I guess your friend already knows that you catch this disease from mites or ticks. I live in Australia and nearly died in 2000, was in high dependency in hospital for 14 days and they pumped me full of broad spectrum anti-biotics, which I believed saved my life. When I was discharged they still didn't know what I had until a blood test revealed that I had Rickettsia Australis (Queensland Tick Typhus). I also had Ross River Fever at the same time, which is spread by mosquitos. Rickettsia is larger than a virus, but smaller than bacteria.
Two years prior to this life threatening sickness, I was bitten by a mite when I cleaned out a filthy house which had been occupied by a diry old man who had been in jail - so this is probably similar to jail fever, and typhus which people get when confined to unclean areas. I had an insanely itchy rash for over 2 years, which progressively covered my whole body and I believe that it destroyed my immune system. I then caught the other problems by being bitten by mosquitos, a tick or throwing around mixed bagged manure. Rickettsia is named after a fellow called Ricketts, who died whilst experimenting with this disease. Also the native Americans thought that Yellow Mountain area was occupied by evil spirits and would not go in there in spring - but they have discovered that the ticks are prevalent at that time. Ticks breed mainly in spring and can spread Rickettsia and also Lymes disease, which is not readily accepted by most practioners because the symptoms are so varied and very hard to identify. There is a blood test called "Western Blot" test which can be done, but even it is not reliable. I went to 5 doctors, skin specialist, iridologist and naturopath and ended up doing my own research, because there was hardly anything available in 2000. I have been keeping records of everything I have tried, because I still get a rash every few months (not yet this spring) The rash is called "Erythema migrans", which is completely different from my first rash.
There is now a website called "Tick Alert Group Support" (TAGS) who are working mainly on Lymes disease, which is caused by a virus called "Borellia burgddorferi". I think the website is www.tags.org
I have found that taking a mixture of black walnut, cloves and wormwood is the best - available from some health shops as drops (for internal attack on the rickettsia bug) and drinking vegetable juices if available. These are the best I could find for the rash - Daktarin cream, selsun shampoo rubbed on the rash, Neem or Lavender soap.
I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy - I hope this helps your friend.