Research
A virus found in one out of ten patients in China is carried by a tick species that is spreading across the US
Earth.com · By Rodielon Putol ·
The Brief
- Researchers in China found a newly identified tick-borne virus, Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), in 10.4 percent of 3,163 patients they tested.
- ALTNV was also found in ticks collected from 15 provinces in China.
- Patients infected with ALTNV alone recovered, and the Asian longhorned tick that carries it has spread across the US.
Why it matters
It documents a previously unrecognised tick-borne virus found in a sizeable share of patients, and it flags that a tick species carrying it is spreading in the US. Public health and tick-surveillance researchers should track it.
Who’s affected
- Public health researchers tracking tick-borne viruses
- Tick surveillance teams in the US and China
- #tick-borne virus
- #nairovirus
- #asian longhorned tick
- #zoonotic disease
- #public health
Researchers in China found a newly identified tick-borne virus in 10.4 percent of 3,163 patients they tested. The virus, called Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), also turned up in ticks collected from 15 provinces. Patients infected with ALTNV alone recovered. Among 38…