Horror in China: New mysterious virus transmitted by ticks may be deadly

Researchers in China have uncovered a new tick-borne virus named ALTNV, which causes high fever, severe fatigue, and blood abnormalities. The virus was detected in over 10% of 3,000 tick bite victims tested, solving a medical mystery of patients with severe symptoms but negative tests for known diseases. While those infected with the virus alone recover, co-infection with another dangerous tick virus led to a mortality rate of over 18% among seven patients who died.

Researchers in China have revealed a new and unfamiliar tick-borne virus named ALTNV, which causes a severe flu-like illness. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, solved a medical mystery: many patients bitten by ticks suffered alarming symptoms, but laboratory tests for known diseases came back negative. A team of researchers in Beijing examined blood samples from over 3,000 people who had been bitten and found that more than 10% were infected with the new virus. Among patients who felt very ill but tested negative, the virus was found in one out of six. The prominent symptoms were extreme fatigue (84% of patients) and gastrointestinal issues (80%). In over a third, liver damage and a sharp drop in blood platelets were recorded. All patients infected solely with the new virus recovered completely. The real danger arises with co-infection with a known dangerous tick virus. Among dozens of patients infected with both viruses, the disease became severe: most suffered from respiratory difficulties and serious kidney damage, and seven died—a mortality rate of over 18%. The virus was mainly found in the Asian longhorned tick in 15 provinces in China. The researchers call for updating hospital testing methods to identify patients in time.