Researchers in China have identified a new tick-borne virus, called Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), that can cause flu-like illness, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. According to the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 10.4% of 3,163 patients bitten by ticks were found to have ALTNV, with 18.4% of those co-infected with another tick-borne virus (Dabie bandavirus) dying during the course of the study. The symptoms of ALTNV can initially resemble the flu, and an effective treatment has not been identified for this new virus. Dr. Sharon Nachman, a pediatric infectious diseases expert, emphasizes the importance of identifying the specific virus causing illness in order to provide appropriate care.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Scientists in China have identified a previously unknown tick-borne virus that can cause flu-like illness, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a new study.
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The newly discovered virus, the Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which is part of the orthonairovirus group, has also been found to cause thrombocytopenia (reduced blood platelet counts) and laboratory evidence of liver-cell injury or inflammation.
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Since 2009, Chinese researchers have been tracking patients with unusual illnesses, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), according to Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in New York.
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“Thrombocytopenia is low platelet count, so those patients bled, and it had about a 30% mortality, which is quite high,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“So, they kept following those patients.”
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Many of the cases were linked to Dabie bandavirus (DBV), a tick-borne hemorrhagic fever, but it was not the most common virus.
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After extensive testing of blood samples and viral fragments, researchers identified the new virus, ALTNV, which is genetically distinct from DBV.
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which → identify → DBV
Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing identified the virus in 10.4% of 3,163 patients who had been bitten by ticks.
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who → identify → ticks
Patients who had both ALTNV and DBV were more likely to have respiratory issues and kidney complications.
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who → have → issues
Seven (18.4%) of these patients died during the course of the study.
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“The cocirculation of ALTNV and DBV in the same areas, coupled with their shared tick vector, underscores the need for improved differential diagnosis between infections with these viruses in regions where SFTS is endemic,” the authors concluded.
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authors → couple → regions
The findings were published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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findings → publish → Medicine
“The big picture is that ticks carry lots of viruses,” Nachman said.
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Nachman → carry → viruses
“We’re getting smarter at identifying those viruses.
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And when one blood sample is negative, it’s important to say, ‘Maybe there was a new virus there, and let’s look for it.'”
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Symptoms and treatment
Illness from ALTNV can initially resemble the flu, causing fever, muscle aches, fatigue and sometimes respiratory symptoms.
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Although an ALTNV infection can cause low platelet counts, the study did not link the virus alone to severe bleeding or deaths.
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The fatal cases involved patients who were also infected with DBV, which causes severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.
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Because tick-borne viral symptoms can overlap with many infections, Nachman emphasized the importance of identifying the specific virus.
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Nachman → bear → virus
“Effective antivirals exist for flu, but not for many tick-borne viruses, including the newly identified one,” she said.
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she → exist → one
For most patients, supportive care is given to help manage symptoms, “but it’s also about being smart and not giving patients the wrong medication,” Nachman noted.
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“And we certainly don’t want to use antibiotics because those only work for bacteria, not for viruses.”
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those → want → viruses
Preventing tick bites
Nachman shared the best practices she recommends to families looking to avoid tick bites.
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“Wear the right clothing, meaning long pants, tucking them into your socks, and use tick repellents on your skin if you’re an adult or on your clothing if you’re a young child,” she advised.
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It’s also important to be on the lookout for ticks on the skin.
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“The longer the tick is on your skin, the more it’s engorged, the more it’s likely to pass an infection to you,” Nachman said.
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Nachman → engorge → you
“So, removing them after you’ve gone hiking or walking on the beach will be really important.”
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you → remove → beach
While the Asian longhorn tick is not yet seen in the U.S., Nachman noted there are “lots and lots of other ticks, and those ticks carry other diseases.”
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“I don’t want to say one tick is worse than another tick.
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It’s rather all about the diseases they carry and who you are,” she said.
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she → ’ → diseases
“So, if you’re a healthy adult, and you get babesiosis, you often get better without any medications.
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But if you’re an immune-compromised adult, you’re going to be quite sick.
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“It’s not really about the ticks.
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It’s about the patient.
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What’s your underlying illness if you have any?
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Since 2009, Chinese researchers have been tracking patients with unusual illnesses, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS).
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researchers → track → syndrome
Illness from ALTNV can initially resemble the flu, causing fever, muscle aches, fatigue and sometimes respiratory symptoms.
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Illness → resemble → fever
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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findings → publish → Medicine
