# Bourbon virus detections and first NY case confirmed > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bourbon-virus-detection-in-new-york > Updated: 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 4. Following the July 2026 confirmation of the state’s first human Bourbon virus infection in Suffolk County, health officials have continued to document the pathogen’s presence in New York. On 24 July, Stony Brook Medicine reported the first detection of Bourbon virus RNA in a lone‑star tick collected elsewhere in the state, prompting renewed warnings that the virus may be more prevalent than previously recognized. The same week, Suffolk County reiterated the Larkin case and announced three probable tularemia infections, including a child with a tick‑bite ulcer, underscoring an unusually severe tick season. By 3 August, the Long Island case was confirmed as the first Northeast U.S. occurrence, and researchers highlighted the parallel emergence of the Asian longhorned tick, whose rapid spread and capacity to transmit multiple pathogens adds further concern for tick‑borne disease surveillance. Authorities continue to call for expanded tick monitoring, development of clinical diagnostics, and public‑health messaging on repellents, protective clothing, and thorough tick checks for people and pets. ## Claims - New York State confirmed its first human case of Bourbon virus. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 in Bourbon County, Kansas. (corroborated by 12 sources) - There is currently no vaccine, specific antiviral treatment, or commercial diagnostic test for Bourbon virus. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Stony Brook Medicine researchers examined 107 samples from 2019‑2024, finding serologic evidence of Bourbon virus infection. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The patient was 67‑year‑old Michael Larkin, a Suffolk County landscaper. (corroborated by 11 sources) - Larkin was bitten by two lone star ticks while working outdoors in 2021. (corroborated by 11 sources) - He was initially misdiagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with doxycycline, which was ineffective. (corroborated by 11 sources) - He was hospitalized for five days and recovered fully. (corroborated by 11 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: First Northeast US case of Bourbon virus confirmed in New York A Long Island patient is the first confirmed case of Bourbon virus in the Northeast, while a new study links the global spread of Asian longhorned ticks to parthenogenesis and disease risk. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/first-northeast-us-case-of-bourbon-virus-confirmed-in-new-york ### 2026-07-31: Suffolk County, NY Confirms First Bourbon Virus Case Amid Tularemia Alerts Suffolk County, NY confirmed its first Bourbon virus case and reported three probable tularemia cases, highlighting a severe tick season and urging preventive measures. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/first-confirmed-case-of-bourbon-virus-in-new-york ### 2026-07-29: New York Confirms First Human Case of Bourbon Virus New York confirmed its first human Bourbon virus case in 67‑year‑old Michael Larkin, bitten by lone‑star ticks. Misdiagnosed as Lyme, he was hospitalized five days and recovered. No vaccine or test exists. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bourbon-virus-detected-in-new-york-tick-raises-concern-over-spread ### 2026-07-24: Bourbon virus found in New York tick prompts health warning Scientists detected the first Bourbon virus‑infected lone‑star tick in New York, warning the disease may be under‑diagnosed and could spread as ticks move northward. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bourbon-virus-found-in-new-york-tick-prompts-health-warning --- Cite as: Bourbon virus detections and first NY case confirmed. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bourbon-virus-detection-in-new-york