Hitherto Unknown Virus from Ticks Caused Death of Kansas Man

The mysterious death of a Kansas man last summer due to an unidentified virus has been attributed to ticks.

According to Huffington Post, the disease that caused the death of the man is similar to other tick borne diseases in that it causes fever and malaise. However the new disease, named Bourbon after the city county of first victim, does not respond to antibiotics as it is caused by a virus. There currently is no medication or vaccine. Kansas man is said to have died within 10 days of being hospitalized. Officials of Kansas Health Department said the virus quickly causes lung and kidney failure.

It took the Center for Disease Control and Prevention took six months to identify the cause of death and pin it down to a virus being spread about ticks.

"Its genome is similar to viruses that have been found in eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, but no virus like that has ever been identified in the western hemisphere," Dr. Dana Hawkinson at University of Kansas Hospital, said according to ABC News.

Researchers are yet to learn if the virus is fatal always or if there are milder forms of the disease. Officials said the risk of infection from virus is minimal during winter as it is thought to be spread through tick bites.

However, common precautions including use of long sleeve clothing, insect repellents and avoiding wooded areas or high grass. Pets should also be freed from tick infestations as they can be spread to humans from animals.