First case of rare tickborne Bourbon virus confirmed on Long Island
FOX Weather • • health
Key Points:
- The first confirmed case of Bourbon virus in New York was reported in April 2026, with the patient experiencing severe symptoms but ultimately recovering after hospitalization.
- Bourbon virus, transmitted by Lone Star ticks, was first discovered in 2014 and has caused at least two known deaths, including one in 2026.
- Symptoms of Bourbon virus infection include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting, and there is currently no vaccine or treatment available.
- The virus may be more widespread in the Northeast than previously thought, as symptoms resemble other tick-borne illnesses and cases may go undiagnosed.
- Researchers emphasize the need for enhanced viral surveillance, clinical testing, and assay development to improve diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of Bourbon virus epidemiology.
