Bourbon Virus
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported the discovery of a new virus that has been linked to the death of a Kansas resident during the summer of 2014. The virus has been named Bourbon virus, after Bourbon County, Kansas, where the patient resided. Bourbon virus is a type of thogotovirus, which is a member of the orthomyxovirus family. Its nearest relatives are found in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.
The patient worked outdoors and often had tick bites. He was admitted to the hospital with high fever, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite. Liver enzymes were elevated and white blood cell count and platelet count were decreased. These symptoms and laboratory results resembled those that occur with other tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis or Heartland virus disease. However, the patients’ specimens tested negative for all known tick-borne diseases.
Although the host of Bourbon virus is unknown at this time, transmission is believed to occur through the bites of ticks or other insects. CDC and KDHE plan to test other residents with similar symptoms, who have tested negative for Heartland virus in the last year. Investigators are also planning to collect and test ticks and other insects for Bourbon virus.
At this time there is no vaccine or specific treatment for this virus.
CDC has developed blood tests that can be used to identify and confirm recent Bourbon virus infections.
