A 67-year-old Long Island man has become the first confirmed case of Bourbon virus in New York state. Michael Larkin of Brookhaven was bitten by a lone star tick in 2021 and suffered debilitating fevers, headaches, and night sweats for five years before the virus was finally identified through state health department testing. Bourbon virus is an extremely rare tick-borne illness first identified in 2014 in Kansas. It is spread by lone star ticks and causes fever, fatigue, rash, and body aches. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment -- care is limited to managing symptoms. The virus has caused at least two deaths in the US since its discovery. Experts note that the disease closely mimics Lyme disease, which can lead to misdiagnosis. The case highlights growing concerns about the geographic spread of tick-borne illnesses as warming temperatures expand tick habitats northward.
First Case of Rare and Potentially Fatal Bourbon Virus Confirmed in New York State
A 67-year-old Long Island man has become the first confirmed case of Bourbon virus in New York state -- a rare tick-borne illness spread by lone star ticks with no specific treatment or vaccine. The man suffered debilitating symptoms for five years before the virus was identified.
Key Takeaways
- A 67-year-old Long Island man has become the first confirmed case of Bourbon virus in New York state -- a rare tick-borne illness spread by lone star ticks with no specific treatment or vaccine.
- The man suffered debilitating symptoms for five years before the virus was identified.
AI synthesis4 sources6
