Rare “Bourbon Virus” Confirmed In New York State

My girlfriend and I are both very outdoorsy. Most of our dates are the two of us finding a trail and taking a hike. On those, hikes, I've learned something interesting...

Some people are "Chick Magnets", she's a "Tick Magnet"! These little guys keep finding their way onto unsuspecting passersby, and they might be carrying an incredibly dangerous virus...

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Bourbon Virus Confirmed in NY

Recently, researchers at Stony Brook Medical published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene that they found confirmation of Bourbon Virus in New York. The infected was 67-year-old Michael Larkin, of Brookhaven Town.

According to Larkin, he was landscaping in his backyard, when he was pit on the leg by two ticks. He says he began to feel worse and worse, with symptoms like fever, fatigue, rashes, headaches, nausea and vomiting. He was studied for a year before researchers were able to diagnose him.

What is Bourbon Virus?

According to the Center for Disease Control, Bourbon Virus is apparently spread through infected ticks, specifically the Lone Star Tick. It has currently been reported on in the Midwest, East Coast, and Southern United States.

Symptoms are:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Headache
• Other body aches
• Nausea and vomiting

Other signs can include:

• Lower than normal counts of white blood cells, which help fight infections
• Lower than normal counts of platelets, which help prevent bleeding

At the moment, there are no vaccines or treatments, but certain symptoms can be quelled with over the counter medication.