Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 day ago
New tick-borne virus found in Chinese patients and ticks
Researchers in China identified a newly described tick-borne virus called ALTNV in 10.4% of 3,163 patients with fever and a history of tick exposure.
Among patients who tested negative for the SFTS-causing virus, 15.1% tested positive for ALTNV.
Patients with ALTNV alone recovered, but seven of 38 patients infected with both ALTNV and the SFTS-causing virus died.
The team also found ALTNV in ticks collected across 15 Chinese provinces, most often in Asian longhorned ticks.
That tick has been recorded in 21 U.S. states, but the study does not show that ALTNV is in U.S. ticks.
The researchers say better tests are needed to distinguish tick-borne viruses in places where SFTS is common.
Researchers in China identified a new tick-borne virus, ALTNV, in patients with fever and in ticks collected across 15 provinces.
ALTNV was detected in 10.4 percent of 3,163 patients tested.
All 56 patients described with ALTNV alone recovered, while seven of 38 patients coinfected with ALTNV and the SFTS-causing virus died.
The Asian longhorned tick carried ALTNV most often in the study and has also spread to parts of the United States.
The Chinese study did not establish whether ALTNV is present in U.S. ticks.
- Who
- Researchers in China identified ALTNV in patients and ticks.
- What
- They found the new tick-borne virus and reported that coinfection with the virus causing SFTS was linked to more severe illness.
- When
- The researchers reported the findings in September 2026.
- Where
- In patients and ticks in China, including ticks collected across 15 provinces.
- Why
- The team investigated other possible causes of fever, including cases diagnosed as SFTS that tested negative for its known cause, DBV.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
New Jersey became the first U.S. state to report the Asian longhorned tick, found on a sheep.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had documented the tick in 21 states.
Researchers in China reported their findings on ALTNV.
Earth.com published its article about the study.
- Patients tested
- 3,163
- ALTNV-positive patients
- 10.4 percent
- Ticks tested
- 47,428
- Tick collection area
- 15 Chinese provinces
- ALTNV-positive ticks
- 1.29 percent
- Deaths among coinfected patients
- 7 of 38
What people are saying
The full public health and agricultural impact of this tick discovery and spread is unknown.