First case of deadly Bourbon virus infection detected in New York

The first case of infection with the rare Bourbon virus has been confirmed in the US state of New York, according to People magazine. The virus has no known cure and can be potentially fatal.

The infection was detected in 67-year-old Long Island resident Michael Larkin. While working in his yard, he found two lone star ticks attached to his leg. Some time later, he developed severe pain and weakness and was hospitalized.

According to the report, Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas. Since then, cases have been reported in the US Midwest, along the East Coast, and in the southern states. Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, rash, nausea, and vomiting.

The infection is believed to be transmitted through tick bites. There are currently no vaccines or specific treatments for the virus, and diagnosing the disease remains difficult.

The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is a North American hard tick species named after the distinctive silver-white, star-shaped spot found on the back of adult females.

By Jeyhun Aghazada