Key points
- Bourbon virus is a rare cause of tickborne illness.
- Persons with Bourbon virus disease (Bourbon) will have similar signs and symptoms of other tickborne illnesses but will not respond to antibiotic treatment (e.g., doxycycline).
- If you think you or a family member might be infected with Bourbon virus, talk with your healthcare provider.
- There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Bourbon.
Symptoms
People diagnosed with Bourbon have had symptoms including:
- fever
- fatigue
- rash
- headache
- other body aches
- nausea and vomiting
Other signs can include:
- Lower than normal counts of white blood cells, which help fight infections
- Lower than normal counts of platelets, which help prevent bleeding
Diagnosis
If you think you or someone in your family may have been infected with Bourbon virus, talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms.
There are blood tests available to help determine if someone was infected.
Treatment
There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Bourbon virus disease. Antibiotics do not treat viruses.
Mild symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medicines, like pain relievers.
Some patients may need to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids and treatment for pain and fever.