ByMelissa Fleur Afshar
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A tick bite in New York has revealed a diagnostic problem that could become more common after a patient treated for Lyme disease was actually infected with the Bourbon virus, a rare tick-borne illness with no vaccine and no cure
The case is detailed in a new study confirming the first known Bourbon virus infection in New York State, on Long Island. The research was published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Dr. Suraj Saggar, chief of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, told Newsweek that tick-borne diseases are spreading into new parts of the country as the climate changes
“Areas that historically experienced longer, colder winters or significant snow cover are now more hospitable to ticks,” Saggar said. “As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns change, ticks are able to spread northward and thrive in new ecosystems.”
A Diagnosis That Didn’t Add Up
According to the study’s authors, the patient was initially diagnosed with Lyme disease and given the standard antibiotic doxycycline. The symptoms, including fatigue and severe headaches, did not improve
“This one case certainly was the Bourbon virus, and over a one-month period antibody titers increased eightfold,” Luis Marcos, lead author of the study and a professor at the Renaissance <a href="https://healthylife7.com/whitesboro-high-school-to-host-a-full/” title=”Whitesboro High School to host a full”>School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University, said in a statement. “The patient showed some very severe symptoms and was hospitalized.”
The researcher added that early Bourbon virus symptoms closely resemble those of Lyme disease, which likely explains the initial misdiagnosis. Because there is no commercial test available to confirm a Bourbon virus infection, samples from suspected cases in New York must be sent to the state health department for specialized testing
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How the Case Was Found
The finding came out of a broader study of 107 people in Suffolk County, New York, who developed fever and other symptoms after a tick bite between 2019 and 2024. Blood samples from the group were screened for three viruses spread by ticks: Powassan, Heartland and Bourbon
Two of the 107 patients had antibodies indicating a Bourbon virus infection, and one had antibodies for Heartland virus. No one tested positive for Powassan virus. A fourfold rise in antibody levels in two patients pointed to a recent or active infection, researchers said, underscoring the need for wider testing and monitoring of these lesser-known viruses
Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 and is named for Bourbon County, Kansas, where it was discovered. It remains rare and is mostly found in the central U.S., though this case suggests its range may be expanding
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches and nausea. The virus is spread by the rather common lone star tick, which is currently causing concern in medical circles after its bite was linked to meat allergies
Protecting Against Tick Bites
Saggar said tick-borne illnesses are most common in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and New England, as well as parts of the Midwest and West, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Lyme disease cases have roughly doubled or tripled over the past 20 years as tick habitats have expanded
He recommended wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks when hiking, since ticks are drawn to darker colors. Insect repellents containing DEET and permethrin-treated clothing also help
After time outdoors, Saggar advised checking the body thoroughly for ticks, especially behind the knees, the groin, under the arms and along the scalp, and removing any attached ticks promptly
“In some cases, healthcare providers may prescribe doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis if a tick is believed to have been attached for 48 to 72 hours,” he said
Reference
Bateman, V. A., et al. (2026). Evidence of Heartland and Bourbon Viruses Transmitted by Ticks in Suffolk County, New York. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.26-0012
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kara Dolman and Sam Wilson
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