The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) reported last week on a possible case of the tickborne viral disease caused by Bourbon virus in an adult resident of St. Louis County.
The individual has recovered. While initial testing was negative for Heartland and Bourbon virus, due to clinical symptoms and in an abundance of caution, additional different testing was conducted. Test results indicate a possible case of Bourbon virus. Confirmation of the possible positive test results, which require blood samples collected over time, will not be available for two to three weeks. CDC is the only entity that conducts Heartland and Bourbon virus testing.
Bourbon virus is a new Thogotovirus: CDC
The patient with possible Bourbon virus reports being bitten by a tick after spending time outdoors in the southwest St. Louis area. The patient does not report spending time in specific locations associated with prior positive Bourbon virus test results in people or ticks. Bourbon virus was initially identified in an individual in Bourbon County, Kansas. It has also been reported in Oklahoma and detected in ticks in Northwest Missouri, in a resident of Southwest Missouri, a resident of East Central Missouri, and now possibly a second resident of East Central Missouri.
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