The CDC named it the “Bourbon virus” after the county of Kansas where the victim lived. The man had been doing yard work when he was bitten several times by ticks. After falling ill over the next couple of days, he went to the hospital. However, with the limited information, doctors failed to curb the degradation to his health and he died 11 days later.
After his death, doctors sent a blood sample to the CDC. The They found the virus to be within a group of viruses linked to insect bites and previously detected in Europe, Asia and Africa.
The CDC notes that there are no vaccines, known cures or treatments for this particular strain. Antibiotics, they not, “are not effective.” The CDC recommended that people protect themselves by using insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, avoiding bushy and wooded areas and checking for ticks after spending time outdoors.
