New Tick-Borne Virus Discovered—Symptoms and How To Protect Yourself
Summary
Scientists in China have discovered a new virus spread by ticks called the Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV). This virus causes flu-like symptoms and can be serious when found with another tick virus called Dabie bandavirus (DBV). ALTNV has not yet been found in U.S. ticks, but its carrier tick is present in parts of the U.S.Key Facts
- The new virus, ALTNV, was found in about 10.4% of over 3,000 patients bitten by ticks in China.
- ALTNV causes fever, tiredness, stomach problems, low blood platelets, and signs of liver damage.
- If a patient has both ALTNV and DBV, symptoms get worse, including breathing and kidney problems, with a higher death rate (18.4%).
- ALTNV was found in 1.3% of nearly 47,500 ticks in 15 Chinese provinces, mostly in the Asian longhorned tick.
- The Asian longhorned tick can reproduce without mating, which helps it spread quickly.
- This tick has already spread to parts of the U.S., but ALTNV has not been detected in American ticks yet.
- Doctors warn that people in areas with this tick should take precautions to avoid tick bites.
- Scientists call for better testing to distinguish between ALTNV and other tick-borne viruses, especially where diseases like SFTS are common.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
