The Oklahoma State Department of Health has confirmed the state's first case and death from the Heartland virus, transmitted by the Lone Star tick, Ambylomma americanum. The Heartland virus was first identified in Missouri in 2009, and the Oklahoma case is the tenth person confirmed with the virus and the second person to die from it.
The Heartland virus has a clinical presentation similar to Ehrlichiosis, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, bruising easily and diarrhea. There is no routine testing available for the Heartland virus, although it will produce low white cell counts (leukopenia), low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and elevated liver function tests (transaminitis), similar to Ehrlichiosis. The Heartland virus does not respond to antibiotics like doxycycline (as in the case of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma), so education and prevention of tick bites is essential to prevent increased morbidity and mortality.
http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/story/First-Heartland-Virus-case-death-in-Oklahoma/86y_HxPdVEmz83gIXc4JOQ.cspx
The Heartland virus has a clinical presentation similar to Ehrlichiosis, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, bruising easily and diarrhea. There is no routine testing available for the Heartland virus, although it will produce low white cell counts (leukopenia), low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and elevated liver function tests (transaminitis), similar to Ehrlichiosis. The Heartland virus does not respond to antibiotics like doxycycline (as in the case of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma), so education and prevention of tick bites is essential to prevent increased morbidity and mortality.
http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/story/First-Heartland-Virus-case-death-in-Oklahoma/86y_HxPdVEmz83gIXc4JOQ.cspx
