Viral illness
Bourbon virus disease
Bourbon virus disease is a rare viral illness. In the United States, it is believed to spread through the bite of an infected Lone Star tick. Reported cases have usually caused a flu-like illness with fever, tiredness, and body aches. Only a small number of cases have ever been recorded since the virus was found in 2014. There is no specific antiviral medicine or vaccine, so care is supportive. Only a licensed doctor can diagnose it. Preventing tick bites is the best protection.
Last reviewed
What it is
Bourbon virus was first found in 2014, after a person in Bourbon County, Kansas, got sick after being exposed to ticks. The virus is named after that county. In the United States, CDC says it is believed to spread to people mainly through bites of infected ticks, likely Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). It is still rare. Researchers are still studying how often it occurs, its full range, and how it spreads.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Headache and body aches
- Rash
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lower-than-normal white blood cell and platelet counts (found on lab tests)
How soon symptoms appear
Not firmly established by CDC. In the small number of reported cases, symptoms have generally started within days to a couple of weeks of a tick bite (broadly, days to weeks). CDC has not published an exact incubation period for Bourbon virus.
Diagnosis
There is no routine home or standard office test for Bourbon virus. A doctor may suspect it, for example, in a patient with tick exposure and a fever, plus low white blood cell and platelet counts that do not improve with antibiotics. The doctor can then arrange special lab testing through state health departments and CDC. You cannot diagnose it yourself.
Treatment
There is no antiviral drug or vaccine for Bourbon virus. Because it is a virus, antibiotics do not work against it. Care is supportive: rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines for fever and aches in milder illness. People who become very sick may need hospital care with IV fluids and close monitoring. A licensed doctor should guide any treatment.
Prevention
The best protection is avoiding tick bites. Use an EPA-registered repellent, such as DEET or picaridin, and treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin. Stay on cleared trails, away from tall grass and leaf litter. Check your whole body for ticks and shower within about two hours of coming inside. Removing ticks quickly and correctly lowers risk further. No vaccine or preventive medicine is available.
Where it occurs
Bourbon virus cases have been reported in the Midwest, East Coast, and Southern United States, matching the general range of the Lone Star tick. It was named for Bourbon County, Kansas, where the first case was found in 2014. So few cases have been reported that the full area where it occurs is still being mapped.
When to seek care
Contact a doctor if you get a fever, tiredness, body aches, or a rash within a few weeks of a tick bite or time in tick habitat. This matters most where Lone Star ticks are common. Be sure to mention the tick exposure. Get urgent care for severe symptoms, such as a very high fever, confusion, or signs of serious illness. This page is for learning. It does not replace a doctor's advice. For emergencies such as trouble breathing or anaphylaxis, call emergency services.
Common questions
Which tick spreads Bourbon virus?
Likely the Lone Star tick. CDC reports that Bourbon virus is believed to spread through bites of infected ticks, likely the Lone Star tick. This is the same tick linked to Heartland virus, ehrlichiosis, STARI, tularemia, and alpha-gal syndrome. CDC describes this spread as 'believed' and 'likely', and research is ongoing.
How soon after a tick bite would Bourbon virus symptoms appear?
No exact timeline is known. CDC has not published a specific incubation period. In the few reported cases, illness generally started within days to a couple of weeks of a tick bite. If you feel ill after a bite, contact a doctor instead of waiting for an exact timeline.
Is there a cure, medicine, or vaccine for Bourbon virus?
No. There is no antiviral drug and no vaccine. Antibiotics do not work because it is a virus. Treatment is supportive (rest, fluids, and symptom relief), with hospital care for severe illness.
Does the Lone Star tick spread Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
No. Even though it bites aggressively, the Lone Star tick does not spread Lyme disease, which blacklegged (deer) ticks spread. It is also not a main carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. That is spread mainly by American dog, Rocky Mountain wood, and brown dog ticks. People in Lone Star tick areas often mix this up.
How common is Bourbon virus?
It is very rare. Only a limited number of human cases have been reported since the virus was found in 2014, and some have been severe. Reporting and testing are still developing, so the true number of infections is not known exactly.
Sources
- 1.Bourbon Virus (opens in a new tab) · CDC
Rare tickborne virus first identified in the U.S. in 2014; supportive care only.
- 2.Heartland Virus (opens in a new tab) · CDC
Rare virus associated with Lone Star tick bites; no specific antiviral treatment.
- 3.Where Ticks Live (opens in a new tab) · CDC
The Lone Star tick is widely distributed in the Northeast, South, and Midwest U.S.
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- 6.Lyme Disease (opens in a new tab) · CDC
Spread by blacklegged (deer) ticks, NOT the Lone Star tick. Early sign is often an expanding erythema migrans rash.
This page is here to help you learn. It is not medical advice. Only a doctor can diagnose a tick-borne illness. Read our sources and disclaimer.