New York Confirms First Human Case of Bourbon Virus

Bourbon virus New York Michael Larkin lone star tick Stony Brook Medicine

New York State health officials have confirmed the first human infection with Bourbon virus, a rare tick‑borne disease first identified in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas. The case involves 67‑year‑old Michael Larkin, a landscaper from Suffolk County on Long Island, who was bitten by two lone‑star ticks while working outdoors in 2021.

Larkin was initially diagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with doxycycline, which had no effect. He developed fever, rash, severe headaches, night sweats and extreme fatigue, requiring a five‑day hospital stay before fully recovering. Researchers at Stony Brook Medicine examined 107 blood samples collected between 2019 and 2024, finding serologic evidence of Bourbon virus infection and confirming Larkin’s case as acute.

There is currently no vaccine, specific antiviral therapy, or commercially available diagnostic test for the virus. Scientists warn that the dense population of lone‑star ticks in the Northeast could mean the virus is more widespread than recognized, raising concerns about future undiagnosed cases.

Entities

Bourbon virus · Bourbon virus · Dr. Luis Marcos · Lone star tick · Luis Marcos · Michael Larkin · New York State · Stony Brook Medicine

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 12 SOURCES] Stony Brook Medicine researchers examined 107 samples from 2019‑2024, finding serologic evidence of Bourbon virus infection. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · hudsonvalleycountry.com · matzav.com · +7 more
[● 12 SOURCES] Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · www.memesita.com · www.merca20.com · +7 more
[● 11 SOURCES] He was hospitalized for five days and recovered fully. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · eldiariony.com · www.epochtimes.com · +6 more
[● 12 SOURCES] New York State confirmed its first human case of Bourbon virus. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · eldiariony.com · www.epochtimes.com · +7 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The patient was 67‑year‑old Michael Larkin, a Suffolk County landscaper. eldiariony.com · www.epochtimes.com · hudsonvalleycountry.com · matzav.com · www.themirror.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Larkin was bitten by two lone star ticks while working outdoors in 2021. eldiariony.com · www.epochtimes.com · hudsonvalleycountry.com · matzav.com · www.themirror.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] He was initially misdiagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with doxycycline, which was ineffective. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · hudsonvalleycountry.com · matzav.com · +6 more
[● 12 SOURCES] There is currently no vaccine, specific antiviral treatment, or commercial diagnostic test for Bourbon virus. www.medicaldaily.com · gizmodo.com · timesng.com · eldiariony.com · hudsonvalleycountry.com · +7 more

Sources

A Rare and Deadly Tick Virus With No Cure Has Taken Hold in New York [gizmodo.com]

14 days ago

Deadly' Tick Can Feed on Your Blood for Days Before You Realize You've Been Bitten, Now a Rare Virus is Spreading [www.medicaldaily.com]

14 days ago

Alerta por virus Bourbon: detectan enfermedad rara transmitida por GARRAPATAS y SIN TRATAMIENTO [www.aztecapuebla.com]

14 days ago

First Tick Infected with Rare Bourbon Virus Found in New York, Scientists Warn - Timesng [timesng.com]

15 days ago

Bourbon Virus: Symptoms, Transmission, and Risks Explained - Memesita [www.memesita.com]

14 days ago

Rare, Untreatable Fatal Virus Found In New York For The 1st Time [hudsonvalleycountry.com]

14 days ago

Nueva York confirma su primer caso del virus Bourbon: qué es, síntomas y cómo protegerte de la peligrosa garrapata [eldiariony.com]

14 days ago

罕见蜱媒病毒现踪纽约专家吁扩大监测 | 大纪元 [www.epochtimes.com]

14 days ago

First Case of Untreatable, Potentially Fatal Bourbon Virus Confirmed In New York | Matzav. com [matzav.com]

14 days ago

Terrifying Bourbon virus that can't be treated hits New York and set to spread [www.themirror.com]

15 days ago

Bourbon Virus: What Is It and What Are the Symptoms of This Incurable Infection? [www.merca20.com]

14 days ago

Rare Bourbon Virus Confirmed in New York for the First Time [scitechdaily.com]

16 days ago