UC Riverside: Emerging Tick-Borne Virus Raises Concern

"Emerging Tick-Borne Virus Raises Concern" — UC Riverside, July 2026

A University of California, Riverside study examining how orthonairoviruses — a family of tick-borne pathogens that includes the severe and potentially fatal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus — evade the human immune system. Researchers found that specialized viral proteins suppress the body's immune defenses at multiple stages, making infection easier to establish. Of particular concern is a nairovirus associated with the Pacific Coast tick, which already transmits other serious diseases to humans. The study suggests this virus may be coming into contact with humans and could be circulating undetected, underscoring the need for improved surveillance of emerging tick-borne viruses and the significant pandemic potential of this viral family.

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