The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate a new virus which has been linked to the death of a Kansas resident during the summer of 2014. KMUW's Aileen LeBlanc reports...
The new virus is called Bourbon Virus after the Kansas resident's home county. The host of the virus is unknown but believed to be a tick, as the illness bears similar symptoms to known tick viruses. Symptoms include fever and fatigue.
There is no known specific treatment, vaccine, or drug for Bourbon virus disease. Since Bourbon virus disease is thought to be transmitted through tick or insect bites, risk to the public during the winter months is minimal. To reduce the potential risk of tick- or insect-borne illnesses, KDHE and CDC recommend that people:
• Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter;
• Use insect repellent containing DEET when outdoors;
• Use products that contain permethrin on clothing;
• Wear clothing with long sleeves and pants;
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you;
• Conduct a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors; and
• Examine gear and pets, as ticks can “ride” into the home and attach to a person later.