About Heartland Virus

For Everyone

Key points

  • Heartland virus spreads to people through the bite of an infected tick.
  • Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain.
  • There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Heartland virus disease (Heartland).
  • You can reduce your risk by preventing tick bites.
A woman and a man walking on a trail wearing day packs on a hike.

Overview

Heartland is a disease caused by a virus spread by infected ticks. Most cases of Heartland have been reported from states in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central United States.

Symptoms

The time from tick bite to feeling sick (incubation period) ranges from a few days to several weeks. Signs and symptoms of Heartland are often similar to those of other tickborne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis.

  • Most people infected with Heartland virus experience fever, fatigue (feeling tired), decreased appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain.
  • Some people also have lower than normal counts of white blood cells, which help fight infections, and lower than normal counts of platelets, which help prevent bleeding.
  • Tests to check how well the liver is working (liver function tests) can show increased levels of liver enzymes.
For Health Care Providers Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Heartland Virus Disease

How it spreads

Heartland virus spreads to people through bites of infected ticks, primarily lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum).

Prevention

The best way to prevent Heartland is to protect yourself from tick bites. No licensed vaccines or medicines are available to prevent Heartland.

Keep Reading Preventing Heartland

Testing and diagnosis

If you think you or a family member might have Heartland, talk to your healthcare provider. Healthcare providers diagnose Heartland based on:

  • Signs and symptoms
  • History of living in or traveling to an area where Heartland virus is known to circulate
  • History of possible exposure to the ticks that can spread Heartland virus
  • Laboratory tests

Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for Heartland virus and other infections that cause similar symptoms.

For Health Care Providers Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Heartland Virus Disease

Treatment

No medicines are available to treat Heartland. Antibiotics do not treat viruses.

  • Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medications may relieve some symptoms.
  • Some patients may need to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids and supportive care for pain, fever, or other related problems.

For healthcare providers: Treatment and Prevention of Heartland Virus Disease

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)