All articles tagged with #tick borne disease
The Rhode Island Department of Health confirmed a third case of Powassan virus in the state for 2026, affecting a 60-year-old man in Washington County. This is the eleventh case reported in Rhode Island since 2016. The disease, transmitted by ticks, has no vaccine or specific treatment, prompting officials to urge residents to take preventive measures as cases rise nationally.
Chinese researchers have identified a new tick-borne virus, Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which may explain unexplained cases of severe illness resembling SFTS. While ALTNV alone causes mild symptoms and full recovery, co-infection with Dabie bandavirus (DBV) leads to severe complications and high mortality. The virus is primarily carried by the Asian longhorned tick, which is present in the US but has not yet been linked to human cases there.
Chinese scientists have identified a new tick-borne virus called Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV). Discovered while investigating cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), the virus causes flu-like symptoms and low platelet counts. While ALTNV alone appears to cause mild illness, co-infection with the deadly Dabie bandavirus (DBV) significantly increases the risk of respiratory issues, kidney impairment, and death.
Chinese researchers have identified a new tick-borne virus, Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which causes flu-like symptoms, low platelet counts, and liver inflammation. Found in 10.4% of 3,163 tick-bite patients, ALTNV is genetically distinct from the related Dabie bandavirus (DBV). While ALTNV alone was not linked to death, co-infection with DBV resulted in severe respiratory and kidney complications, with a 18.4% mortality rate among those co-infected cases. The findings highlight the need for better diagnostic tools in regions where tick-borne fevers are endemic.
Researchers in China have identified a novel tick-borne virus named Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which causes flu-like symptoms including fever and fatigue. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that ALTNV circulates in areas endemic for Dabie bandavirus (DBV), a related virus with a high mortality rate. While ALTNV infections alone resulted in full recovery, co-infection with DBV was associated with higher rates of kidney impairment and respiratory symptoms, with a 18.4% mortality rate among co-infected patients. The discovery highlights the need for better diagnostic differentiation between these viruses in Asia.
Tick-borne alpha-gal syndrome cases are rising across the U.S., with Illinois reporting increased incidents as lone star ticks expand their range. August 2026 saw record emergency room visits for tick bites nationwide. Martha's Vineyard Hospital launched a unique two-year study to track how the allergy develops in bite victims, while experts warn of a second tick season in fall.
Suffolk County health officials report three probable tularemia cases, a rare infection also called rabbit fever, transmitted mainly by ticks (e.g., Lone Star and American dog ticks) or contact with infected animals, contaminated water or undercooked meat. Symptoms include high fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches and a painful skin sore; treatment typically involves antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin or amikacin, and the disease is not spread person-to-person. A vaccine exists only for lab workers and isn’t widely available. Prevention focuses on avoiding tick bites (protective clothing, checks, repellents) and safe handling of game. Suffolk County has historically seen a handful of cases (4 in 2024, 3 in 2023, 1 in 2022), with 2025 data not yet released.
Researchers in New York confirmed the first Bourbon virus case in the state (Long Island), a rare tick-borne illness with no vaccine or specific treatment; experts warn more infections may go undiagnosed and call for expanded surveillance, better testing, and reinforced tick-prevention measures.
The first Bourbon virus case in New York (Long Island) has been confirmed in a severely ill patient. As a rare tick-borne illness with no vaccine or specific treatment, Bourbon virus may be underdiagnosed, leading researchers to call for expanded surveillance and heightened clinician awareness to improve detection and tracking.
A Suffolk County man is New York's first confirmed Bourbon virus case, infected in 2021 by lone star ticks. He developed fever, rash and severe headaches after an initial Lyme-era antibiotic treatment, and there is no vaccine, routine test, or specific treatment for Bourbon virus. He recovered after five days in hospital; the case underscores that Bourbon virus is rare but may be underdiagnosed in the Northeast as lone star ticks and deer expand their range.
A rare tick-borne virus called Powassan has reached a record number of U.S. cases (76 in 2025). The virus can be transmitted by ticks in as little as 15 minutes, can progress to severe neurological illness, and there are no vaccines or specific treatments—only supportive care. Most at risk are children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, making prevention through tick avoidance essential.
Powassan virus, carried by deer ticks, poses a deadly but rare risk in north‑central Minnesota, with Gull Lake highlighted as a high‑risk area as tick season peaks in late spring and early summer. Diagnostics can be tricky and the virus can cause severe neurological damage; there is no treatment. Prevention measures—such as wearing long clothing, using effective repellents, and applying permethrin—are emphasized, especially given historical and recent case data showing variability in Powassan incidence across the region.
A Northern California patient was hospitalized with a newly recognized and extremely rare tick-borne infection, Rickettsia lanei—the fourth documented human case worldwide (with prior California cases in 2004 and 2023, and a case in Oregon). The patient likely encountered an infected tick in a shaded area and was hospitalized for more than two weeks with fever, fatigue, headache, rash and loss of consciousness, but has since recovered. Rickettsia lanei is part of the spotted fever group, thought to circulate mainly in rabbits and can reach humans via the Pacific Coast tick; it was added to the list of newly recognized pathogens in 2024 and can resemble Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Public health officials emphasize tick prevention and ongoing surveillance.
Health officials warn that a deadly tick-borne disease capable of causing brain inflammation is spreading across the United States. The illness can progress to severe encephalitis or meningitis, with cases reported in multiple regions. There is currently no vaccine or specific cure; prevention centers on avoiding tick bites, using repellents, performing thorough tick checks after outdoor activity, and promptly removing any attached ticks.
A California resident has been diagnosed with Rickettsia lanei, the fourth known global case and likely infected in Northern California. The bacterium, related to the one that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can cause severe illness and even death. State officials say California cases are extremely rare, and physicians are urged to consider starting doxycycline early for patients with tick exposure while awaiting tests.