Deadly Viruses Found in Georgia Ticks, Over 50 Fatalities Reported Across 11 States

Georgia ticks were found to host an emerging deadly virus called the Heartland virus, causing the lone star tick disease-which has resulted in multiple fatalities and hospitalization. Scientists have discovered that lone star ticks in Georgia carry the virus through a recent sampling across the state.

Lone star ticks are one of the many species of ticks found in the US. These tiny creatures are characterized by their so-called tick white dot or tick white spot on their backs. They are known for causing a deadly meat allergy to a person and a lone star tick bite can cause multiple health risks.

New research suggests the said ticks are carrying the emerging deadly virus at an alarming rate. The Heartland virus is considered to be a relatively new infectious disease, which was first discovered back in 2009 and has spread to almost the eastern half of the US.

Georgia Ticks

(Photo : Photo by Getty Images)

The emerging Heartland virus, which was first detected more than a decade ago, has been found to make lone star ticks in Georgia as its host, as per new research published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, March 15. The study highlights the growing threat of the Georgia ticks.

The researchers of the study had to sample approximately 10,000 lone star ticks and found that one in every 2,000 of the ticks were carrying the virus. The study used the incident in 2005 when a patient died from a mysterious infection which was later found he died from the virus after contracting it from a deer.

Also Read: Studies: Tick bites can potentially lead to fatal and permanent allergy

Heartland Virus

The Heartland virus or novel phlebovirus was first discovered in Missouri in 2009. Since then, the virus has already spread to the Midwest, southern, and southeastern states. Lone star tick disease caused by the virus has also led to health complications and even death from dozens of cases across the US.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as cited by Georgia Health News, over 50 cases of the Heartland virus were found in 11 states in the Midwest and the Southeast-wherein some people with pre-medical problems or health conditions have died from the lone start tick disease.

In the US alone, lone star ticks live in the Midwest, Southeast, and Eastern states and can lead to zoonotic infectious pathogens through their bites, according to the CDC-funded Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEVBD).

The NEVBD stated lone star ticks can be found in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine-covering almost the entirety of the eastern half of the US.

Lone Star Tick Disease

The lone star tick disease from the emerging deadly Heartland virus is said to cause multiple health symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, headache, nausea, and a loss of appetite. Additional symptoms that are still unknown are possible.

Lone star tick bites are also known for causing a deadly meat allergy called the Alpha-gal syndrome when people eat red meat from mammals. Although normal tick bites are not considered fatal, the latest development on the Heartland virus-carrying Georgia ticks poses life-threatening health hazards.