Heartland & Bourbon Viruses
Pathogen
Heartland virus, Bourbon virus
Carried by
Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)
Heartland and Bourbon are newer tick-borne viruses, first identified in Missouri and Kansas, carried by the lone star tick. They're still uncommon and not fully understood, but worth knowing about because — like other viruses — they don't respond to antibiotics.
Symptoms
- Fever and fatigue
- Low white blood cell and platelet counts
- Headache, muscle aches, nausea
Testing
Specialized testing through the CDC and reference labs.
Labs often used in the Lyme community:
See our Testing Guide to understand your options.
Geography
Midwest, Southeast, and South-Central states, following the lone star tick.
Explore the Where Ticks Live map to see what's carried in your region.
Treatment overview
No specific antiviral exists — care is supportive. Because antibiotics don't help, distinguishing these from bacterial infections matters.
Frequently asked questions
Are these common?
No — they're rare and emerging. But they illustrate why not every tick-borne illness responds to antibiotics, and why prevention matters.