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New Tick-Borne Virus Discovered in China
Confirmed
In Short: Scientists in China have identified a novel tick-borne virus causing flu-like symptoms, highlighting the ongoing challenge of diagnosing tick-borne illnesses.
Scientists in China have identified a novel tick-borne virus that causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The discovery came from a study investigating why 30% of patients with signs of Dabie bandavirus (DBV) infection did not test positive for the tick-borne hemorrhagic fever.
Since 2009, Chinese researchers have been tracking patients with unusual illnesses, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), according to Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
The new virus, named ALTNV, was identified in 10.4% of 3,163 patients who had been bitten by ticks, and is genetically distinct from DBV, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis of tick-borne illnesses.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Because tick-borne viral symptoms can overlap with many infections, a doctor emphasized the importance of identifying the specific virus. (iStock) The findings were published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- "Effective antivirals exist for flu, but not for many tick-borne viruses, including the newly identified one," she said.
- The newly discovered virus, the Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which is part of the orthonairovirus group, has also been found to cause thrombocytopenia (reduced blood platelet counts) and laboratory evidence of liver-cell injury or inflammation.