Most people have heard of Lyme disease, a bacteria which is spread by tick bites and can lead to arthritis if untreated.
Now a new tick transmitted virus has been discovered in Missouri, call the Heartland Virus.
Transmitted by tick bites, it has been found in 7 patients, one of whom who had other medical conditions died. Four others were hospitalized with fever, aches, and low blood counts.
The tick associated was the Lone Star tick, found of course, in the heartland.
Being a virus, we have no specific treatment except to try and eliminate the ticks. This illness should be suspected in people who have unexplained illness that does not respond to regular treatments and have had tick exposures.
Hopefully we will not hear too much about it.
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