A 67-year-old man from Long Island has become the first person in New York State to be diagnosed with Bourbon virus, a rare tick-borne illness for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. The man developed severe fatigue and persistent headaches after discovering two lone star ticks attached to his leg while doing landscaping work near his home. Doctors initially suspected a more common tick-borne infection, but Lyme disease tests came back negative, and antibiotics failed to improve his condition. After an extensive investigation, including antibody testing that took about a year, specialists identified Bourbon virus as the cause of his illness. First identified in Kansas in 2014, Bourbon virus is thought to be transmitted through the bite of infected lone star ticks. Human infections remain uncommon, but some reported cases have resulted in serious complications. People infected with the virus may experience fever, extreme tiredness, headaches, muscle aches, skin rash, nausea, and vomiting. The infection can also lower levels of white blood cells and platelets, making it harder for the body to fight infection and increasing the risk of bleeding. Diagnosing Bourbon virus can be challenging because there is no widely available commercial test. Confirmation typically requires testing through specialized public health laboratories. Treatment is limited to supportive medical care, such as managing fever, relieving pain, maintaining hydration, and providing hospital care when symptoms become severe. No antiviral medication has been approved specifically for the virus. Scientists suspect the virus may be more common than reported because its symptoms closely resemble those of other tick-borne diseases, increasing the chance that infections are overlooked or mistaken for something else. To reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend avoiding tick bites by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers in areas where ticks are common, and checking yourself carefully after spending time outdoors.