New Tick-Borne Virus Discovered—Symptoms and How To Protect Yourself
A newly discovered tick-borne virus is spreading—and the tick that carries it is already living in U.S. backyards.
A previously unknown tick-borne virus has emerged in China and may be spreading to other regions, according to a leading infectious disease physician. Doctors have encountered numerous patients with classic symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, but these patients tested negative for all known viruses. Researchers in China have identified the virus responsible for an influenza-like illness featuring fever, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and abnormal lab results.
The virus, known as Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), has been named and its discovery published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study, conducted by researchers at the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing, identified ALTNV in 10.4 percent of 3,163 patients tested and 15.1 percent of those who tested negative for other known tick-borne illnesses.
While most patients recover from ALTNV alone, those coinfected with both ALTNV and another tick-borne virus showed higher rates of respiratory symptoms and kidney impairment, with a 18.4 percent death rate. The Asian longhorned tick, which can reproduce asexually and transmit the virus to mice, has spread across parts of the United States, though ALTNV has not yet been detected in American ticks.
Despite the absence of ALTNV in American ticks, health officials recommend adhering to standard tick precautions, including using repellent, wearing long clothing, promptly removing attached ticks, and seeking medical attention if fever, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, or other signs of illness arise following a known tick bite or outdoor activity.
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