WHO says risk of Bourbon virus spread in US remains low

Moscow (ANTARA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) is aware of reported cases of Bourbon virus infection in the United States, though the risk of spread remains low, according to Sebastian Oliel, spokesperson for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

“At present, the available evidence does not indicate widespread community transmission. The overall public health risk to the general population appears to be low, given the very small number of reported cases,” Oliel told RIA Novosti on Tuesday (4/8).

Oliel added that the disease caused by the Bourbon virus is a very rare infection transmitted through tick bites. The virus was first identified in the United States in 2014.

On Saturday (1/8), Fox News reported that the first case of the rare Bourbon virus infection had been detected in New York State. To date, no vaccine is available to prevent infection with the virus.

Symptoms of Bourbon virus infection include fever, body weakness, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Doctors face difficulties in diagnosing the disease, as no specific test is yet available to detect the Bourbon virus.