Patient Treated for Lyme Disease Actually Had a Rare Virus—With No Cure
Summary
A patient in New York initially treated for Lyme disease was found to have the Bourbon virus, a rare illness spread by tick bites with no cure or vaccine. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing similar tick-borne diseases and the spread of ticks into new areas due to climate changes.Key Facts
- The patient was first diagnosed with Lyme disease but did not improve after antibiotics.
- Tests later confirmed infection with the Bourbon virus, found for the first time in New York State.
- Bourbon virus symptoms are similar to Lyme disease, which can cause misdiagnosis.
- The Bourbon virus has no vaccine or cure and is carried by the lone star tick.
- The virus was first discovered in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas.
- A study of 107 tick bite patients in Suffolk County, NY, found some with Bourbon and Heartland virus antibodies.
- Changing climate allows ticks to live in areas that were previously too cold.
- Protection against ticks includes wearing light-colored, long clothing, using repellents, and checking the body carefully after outdoor activities.
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