Scientists from Emory University, USA, say they have found a rare, potentially deadly Heartland virus. The virus was found on a type of tick called “lone star ticks”. This virus is spreading rapidly in 6 US states.
The study was published March 16 in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases after scientists conducted genetic analysis of virus samples isolated from ticks in central Georgia. .
The scientists also detected RNA – the virus’ genetic material – in adult and juvenile ticks in other parts of the US (Missouri, Alabama, Illinois, Kansas and New York).
As of now, scientists have not yet determined whether the virus has spread to other states.
The Heartland virus was first detected in 2009 in Northwest Missouri when two local men were hospitalized with high fever, diarrhea, muscle pain, decreased white blood cell count, and other symptoms similar to other illnesses. caused by ticks.
Doctors discovered that the two patients had been infected with a new virus called Heartland, which was later found on the “lone star” ticks that infect deer and other mammal wildlife. .
The characteristic of this tick is that it is very small in size, only about the size of a sesame seed when in the pupal stage, only about half a centimeter in diameter in the adult stage, and has a white spot on its back.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected with this virus will have symptoms of fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain. Patients may even be hospitalized because of these symptoms.
People infected with the virus have lower than normal white blood cells and platelet counts that help in blood clotting. In particular, in the elderly with underlying medical conditions, the risk of death from this disease is very high.
However, the most dangerous thing is that this virus is still unknown to many people, so the recognition and identification of the disease is still difficult.
The CDC notes that there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the Heartland virus.
The researchers confirmed that this virus can grow and spread very quickly, especially in hot and humid weather conditions.
Dr Vazquez-Prokopec, one of the study’s authors, said: “Tick-borne diseases are on the rise and are a real threat to human health. raise vigilance for this tick.”
(Source: Independent)
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