Mysterious Virus That Killed a Farmer in Kansas Is Identified

Commentary: The NY Times just published an article on the recently discovered “Bourbon virus” that killed a farmer in Kansas. “The virus was a type of thogotovirus, part of a larger family known as orthomyxoviruses. Its nearest relatives are found in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia…Those viruses are spread by ticks and mosquitoes. The medical mystery began late last spring, when the patient was admitted to the hospital with a high fever, muscle aches and loss of appetite. He worked outdoors and often had tick bites”. Researchers at the CDC are not certain about the rate of transmission of this virus by ticks and mosquitos, but this virus joins the list of other growing viral tick-borne threats such as the Powassan virus and Heartland virus in the US, and TBE in Europe.

Mysterious Virus That Killed a Farmer in Kansas Is Identified, By Denise Grady, New York Times