WTNH Channel 8: Possibly Deadly Bourbon Virus Confirmed in New York

"Possibly Deadly Bourbon Virus Confirmed in New York" — WPIX/Nexstar, August 2026

A Long Island man becomes the first in New York to be diagnosed with Bourbon virus, a rare and potentially fatal tick-borne illness believed to be spread by lone star ticks. First identified in Kansas in 2014, the virus has no vaccine or treatment, and two deaths have been linked to it. The case — diagnosed after a year-long investigation by doctors at Stony Brook Medicine — is raising concern that the virus may be more prevalent than currently recognized, given how closely its symptoms of fever, fatigue, rash, nausea, and low blood cell counts resemble other tick-borne infections. As lone star ticks continue to expand their range, experts warn this may be just the tip of the iceberg.

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