United States: There has been a virus found in China that can be transmitted from ticks that affect human beings with problems of the brain and there are chances of this being spread among all the nations across the worlds including United States.
Wetland virus (WELV) was first identified in a 61-year-old man who was bitten by ticks at a park located near a large wetland in northern China. The unidentified patient had a fever, a headache, and episodes of vomiting five days after his visit, Live Science.
As reported by the New York Post, This case that occurred in June, 2019, was highlighted last week at the New England Journal of Medicine. This new orthonairovirus referred to as the scientific title of a set of tick-borne viruses directed the Chinese researchers to look for the ticks and animals that might be carrying the virus.
Among the rodent ticks, Haemaphysalis concinna, that species has been mainly reported from China, Russia, and Central Europe showed the highest frequency of reactivity.
The researchers were also able to identify the virus in 17 hospital patients in China who presented with symptomology of the disease within a month of being bitten by tick; several sheep, horses, pigs, and rodents as mentioned at Live Science.
In lab mice the virus caused usually fatal infections which progressed to the brain.
The humans had fever, dizziness, headache, malaise, arthritis, back pain and nausea. A man who I witnessed become comatose had elevated WBC count in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The virus lead to tissue necrosis and coagulopathy, but all the patients made a full recovery and were discharged after 4 to 15 days of treatment.
Ticks are more concerning in the US due to increase in the rates of Lyme disease. Patients should avoid areas containing leaf foliage and tall grasses, according to NewYork-Presbyterian. The best ever precaution you can take if you actually decide to go into a wooded, leafy area, is to spray your clothes first with an insecticide which called permethrin.
Also wearing a light-colored outfit will help you notice a tick on your clothes while long-sleeved shirts and the pants which will help keep them off your skin and the outer parts of your body.
And obviously when you’re done hiking, camping or gardening and to be sure to check your hair and ear and the underarms, groin and the waist the most important and some parts like behind your knees and inside your belly button for the ticks.