Rare Tick-borne Virus Confirmed in New York; Cases May Be Missed
WHO:
USA Today - Sen. Chuck Schumer hosted a news conference regarding the Bourbon virus case.
USA Today - Dr. Luis Marcos is the director of the Tick-borne Disease Clinic at Stony Brook University.
USA Today - Michael Larkin described his experience with Bourbon virus, stating, "I would hit rock bottom and can't get off the couch."
FOX Weather - Dr. Luis Marcos noted, "This one case certainly was the Bourbon virus, and over a one-month period antibody titers increased eight-fold."
USA Today - Michael Larkin, 67, of Long Island, New York, was diagnosed with Bourbon virus.
FOX Weather - Dr. Luis Marcos, professor at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and director of the Tick-borne Disease Clinic, treated the patient.
WHAT:
USA Today - Michael Larkin suffered from "debilitating fevers, headaches and night sweats" for five years after being bitten by a tick.
FOX Weather - The patient treated in April 2026 had an eight-fold increase in antibody titers over a one-month period.
USA Today - The Bourbon virus is described as a rare, untreatable illness that may be underdiagnosed due to its similarity to other tick-borne infections.
FOX Weather - The findings regarding Bourbon virus were published in a study analyzing 107 individuals presenting with fever and other tick-borne illness symptoms between 2019 and 2024.
USA Today - A rare tick-borne illness, Bourbon virus, was identified in New York for the first time after Michael Larkin survived a deadly infection.
FOX Weather - The Bourbon virus was confirmed in New York earlier in 2026, with a patient treated in April 2026.
FOX Weather - The Bourbon virus has been confirmed to cause the deaths of at least two people, one in 2014 and another in 2026.
USA Today - Symptoms of Bourbon virus include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting.
WHERE:
USA Today - The diagnosis occurred at Stony Brook Medicine in Suffolk County, New York.
FOX Weather - The Bourbon virus was first discovered in Bourbon County, Kansas.
WHEN:
USA Today - Michael Larkin was bitten by a tick in his backyard in 2021.
USA Today - Larkin was diagnosed with Bourbon virus in April 2026.
FOX Weather - The Bourbon virus was discovered in 2014.
WHY:
USA Today - Dr. Marcos stated, "For these reasons, the Bourbon virus is likely more prevalent than we think in our region and other cases are likely not being diagnosed."
FOX Weather - Dr. Marcos emphasized the need for "expanded viral surveillance, clinical testing and assay development to improve clinical decision-making and inform tick-borne disease epidemiology and vector management."
USA Today - The Bourbon virus is likely underdiagnosed due to its similarity to other tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease.
FOX Weather - There is a dense population of Lone Star ticks in the Northeast, contributing to the potential prevalence of Bourbon virus.
HOW:
USA Today - Larkin spent days in the hospital receiving supportive care before recovering.
USA Today - Larkin was initially misdiagnosed with Lyme disease before being correctly diagnosed after extensive testing.
FOX Weather - The findings regarding the Bourbon virus were published in a study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, which analyzed 107 individuals presenting with fever and other tick-borne illness symptoms between 2019 and 2024.
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 20:18 UTC)
Senator Chuck Schumer recently held a news conference to discuss a case of the Bourbon virus, which has raised concerns about its prevalence in the region. Michael Larkin, who suffered debilitating symptoms for five years after a tick bite, was treated in April 2026, showing an eight-fold increase in antibody titers over just one month. Dr. Luis Marcos, the director of the Tick-borne Disease Clinic at Stony Brook University, emphasized that the Bourbon virus is likely more common than currently diagnosed, highlighting the need for increased awareness and testing.
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(UPDATED August 1, 2026 17:17 UTC)
Michael Larkin shared his challenging experience with the Bourbon virus, saying, "I would hit rock bottom and can't get off the couch." This rare and untreatable illness, which may often be underdiagnosed due to its similarities with other tick-borne infections, was highlighted in a study that analyzed 107 individuals with fever and related symptoms from 2019 to 2024. Dr. Luis Marcos stressed the importance of expanded viral surveillance and clinical testing to enhance decision-making and improve the management of tick-borne diseases.
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(UPDATED August 1, 2026 16:22 UTC)
Michael Larkin, a 67-year-old from Long Island, New York, has been diagnosed with the Bourbon virus, marking the first confirmed case of this rare tick-borne illness in the state. Treated by Dr. Luis Marcos at Stony Brook Medicine, Larkin was initially misdiagnosed with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in his backyard in 2021, but extensive testing led to the correct diagnosis in April 2026. The Bourbon virus, which has been linked to at least two fatalities, was first discovered in Bourbon County, Kansas, and its symptoms include fever, fatigue, and nausea, making it likely underdiagnosed due to similarities with other tick-borne infections.