Scientists discover new tick-borne virus after testing thousands of patients with mysterious illnesses

Scientists in China have identified a previously unknown tick-borne virus that can cause flu-like illness, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a new study.

The newly discovered virus, the Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which is part of the orthonairovirus group, has also been found to cause thrombocytopenia (reduced blood platelet counts) and laboratory evidence of liver-cell injury or inflammation.

Since 2009, Chinese researchers have been tracking patients with unusual illnesses, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), according to Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in New York.

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"Thrombocytopenia is low platelet count, so those patients bled, and it had about a 30% mortality, which is quite high," she told Fox News Digital. "So, they kept following those patients."

Many of the cases were linked to Dabie bandavirus (DBV), a tick-borne hemorrhagic fever, but it was not the most common virus.

After extensive testing of blood samples and viral fragments, researchers identified the new virus, ALTNV, which is genetically distinct from DBV.

Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing identified the virus in 10.4% of 3,163 patients who had been bitten by ticks.

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Patients who had both ALTNV and DBV were more likely to have respiratory issues and kidney complications. Seven (18.4%) of these patients died during the course of the study.

"The cocirculation of ALTNV and DBV in the same areas, coupled with their shared tick vector, underscores the need for improved differential diagnosis between infections with these viruses in regions where SFTS is endemic," the authors concluded.

The findings were published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"The big picture is that ticks carry lots of viruses," Nachman said. "We're getting smarter at identifying those viruses. And when one blood sample is negative, it's important to say, 'Maybe there was a new virus there, and let's look for it.'"

Illness from ALTNV can initially resemble the flu, causing fever, muscle aches, fatigue and sometimes respiratory symptoms.

Although an ALTNV infection can cause low platelet counts, the study did not link the virus alone to severe bleeding or deaths. The fatal cases involved patients who were also infected with DBV, which causes severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Because tick-borne viral symptoms can overlap with many infections, Nachman emphasized the importance of identifying the specific virus.

"Effective antivirals exist for flu, but not for many tick-borne viruses, including the newly identified one," she said.

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For most patients, supportive care is given to help manage symptoms, "but it's also about being smart and not giving patients the wrong medication," Nachman noted. "And we certainly don't want to use antibiotics because those only work for bacteria, not for viruses."

Nachman shared the best practices she recommends to families looking to avoid tick bites.

"Wear the right clothing, meaning long pants, tucking them into your socks, and use tick repellents on your skin if you're an adult or on your clothing if you're a young child," she advised.

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It’s also important to be on the lookout for ticks on the skin.

"The longer the tick is on your skin, the more it's engorged, the more it’s likely to pass an infection to you," Nachman said. "So, removing them after you've gone hiking or walking on the beach will be really important."

While the Asian longhorn tick is not yet seen in the U.S., Nachman noted there are "lots and lots of other ticks, and those ticks carry other diseases."

"I don't want to say one tick is worse than another tick. It's rather all about the diseases they carry and who you are," she said.

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"So, if you're a healthy adult, and you get babesiosis, you often get better without any medications. But if you're an immune-compromised adult, you're going to be quite sick.

"It’s not really about the ticks. It’s about the patient. Who are you? What's your underlying illness if you have any? How old are you, and how healthy are you?"

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Common cholesterol drug linked to lower dementia risk when started early

Starting statin therapy shortly after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis may not only protect the heart — it may also be linked to a lower dementia risk.

A large study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich on Aug. 30 found that adults who began taking a statin within one year of their type 2 diabetes diagnosis had a 15% lower relative risk of developing dementia over 10 years compared to those who did not take the medication within five years.

Even for those who delayed starting a statin for one to five years, there was still a 10% lower relative risk, according to the findings, which were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.

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A statin is a prescription medication that lowers "bad" LDL cholesterol and helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Researchers conducted the study by tracking health data from 132,585 patients in Denmark who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 2006 and 2019 and had no prior history of statin use or dementia.

During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, the team analyzed how the timing of statin treatment impacted overall dementia rates.

Dr. Liron Sinvani, a geriatrician and director for research and innovation at the Northwell Institute for Healthy Aging in New York, said this was a "well-designed, large-scale observational study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that statins may help protect brain health."

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She noted that while a 15% reduction is a modest improvement, it remains "very significant."

People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of cognitive decline and heart disease, consistent with previous research.

Although guidelines generally recommend statins for many adults ages 40 to 75 with diabetes, statin treatment is not always started soon after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

The study also examined whether the timing of treatment was linked to dementia risk. People who started statins within a year of their diagnosis had a lower risk than those who did not begin treatment.

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"The message here is that maybe waiting is actually not the right approach," Sinvani said, supporting earlier consideration of statin therapy in routine diabetes care.

The expert said she found the results "especially compelling" because the benefit was driven by a lower risk of vascular dementia rather than Alzheimer's disease.

"And that makes biological sense, because we know statins lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation and protects blood vessels," she added, pointing out that these same mechanisms prevent vascular damage to the brain.

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Statin therapy should be viewed as one piece of a broader health strategy alongside exercising regularly, adhering to a healthy diet and staying socially connected, according to the expert.

Almost half of dementia cases may be preventable or delayable by addressing modifiable risk factors, according to the Lancet Commission.

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The study did have limitations. Because it was observational rather than a randomized clinical trial, the researchers could not definitively state that statins directly prevent dementia.

As Sinvani cautioned, "This is not proof that statins prevent dementia, but I think it's an important step in this literature."

The doctor encouraged people with type 2 diabetes who are not taking a statin to ask their doctor whether the medication is appropriate for them."

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Marijuana users may face hidden driving danger that standard tests can miss

A new study warns that driving after eating cannabis edibles can significantly impair road performance and reaction times, even if blood tests show THC levels far below the legal limit.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, highlight a potential challenge for impaired-driving enforcement in Canada and some U.S. jurisdictions.

Most previous cannabis-driving studies have involved smoked or inhaled marijuana, which more rapidly spikes levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) in the bloodstream.

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Edibles are absorbed more slowly and can produce driving impairment even when blood THC concentrations remain relatively low.

Researchers found that drivers who consumed higher doses of edible THC struggled with lane control, had slower reaction times and experienced greater speed fluctuations. Yet, their blood tests stayed below the standard legal cutoff used to prove impairment at roadside traffic stops.

To assess how oral cannabis impacts driving, researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto conducted a trial with 40 healthy adult volunteers who regularly use cannabis.

Each participant attended four separate sessions in which they consumed soft-chew gummies containing either 0, 2, 10 or 20 milligrams of THC.

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The researchers then tested the drivers using a driving simulator at two, five and 24 hours after consumption, tracking how well drivers stayed in their lane, how quickly they reacted to road events and how consistently they maintained their speed.

Blood samples and self-reported ratings of intoxication were also collected.

The results showed driving impairment at two and five hours after consuming 10- and 20-milligram gummies. Compared with placebo, participants who consumed those doses had greater variability in lane position, while the 20-milligram dose was also linked to slower reaction times and less consistent speed control.

Participants also recognized their own limitations, reporting a lower willingness to drive and reduced confidence in their driving skills after taking the gummies.

The highest blood THC concentrations averaged 1.6 nanograms per milliliter after the 10-milligram dose and 3.4 nanograms per milliliter after the 20-milligram dose. Those levels were below the commonly used 5-ng/mL threshold, although THC limits vary by jurisdiction and some individual samples exceeded 5 ng/mL.

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By comparison, participants in the team’s previous smoked-cannabis study showed similar levels of impairment while reaching an average peak blood THC concentration of 30.3 nanograms per milliliter, nearly 10 times higher than the 20-milligram edible group.

The study did have some limitations. Tests were conducted on virtual simulators rather than actual roads, meaning drivers faced no real physical risk during the experiments. It also focused on regular cannabis users, so it is unclear how occasional users might react to similar doses.

Additionally, minimal residual effects were detected after 24 hours. While maximum speed remained slightly higher among participants on the 10-milligram and 20-milligram doses, subjective feelings of intoxication had completely faded.

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In an accompanying commentary, Dr. José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz of the Université de Sherbrooke noted that these biological differences pose a challenge for law enforcement.

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Because edibles are absorbed slowly through the digestive system, standard blood tests may fail to identify unsafe drivers, leaving policymakers searching for more reliable roadside tools.

"The delayed absorption and prolonged duration of effects of edible cannabis distinguish it from smoked or inhaled cannabis, complicating the interpretation of biological measures," he wrote.

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Deadly mosquito-borne virus claims first life in major US city as cases spread

A Chicago resident has died from West Nile virus, marking the city’s first death linked to the mosquito-borne illness this year, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Several other cases have been reported throughout Illinois.

The virus is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, although the disease cycle also includes infected birds. When mosquitoes feed on infected birds, they can pick up the virus and transmit it to humans.

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"2026 has seen the rainiest summer in Chicago in years, giving mosquitoes ample opportunities to breed," CDPH Commissioner Garth Walker said in a statement.

"The best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites and take measures to stop them from breeding around your home."

In an attempt to prevent infections, the CDPH has sprayed insecticide in the following community areas: Beverly, Burnside, Chatham, East Garfield Park, the Lower West Side, Morgan Park, the Near West Side, North Lawndale, O'Hare, Pullman, Roseland, South Deering, Washington Heights, West Lawn and West Pullman.

For most people, West Nile produces mild symptoms — such as fever, aches and rashes — or none at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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In rare serious cases, the virus invades the nervous system, causing meningitis, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), paralysis or death.

People over 50 or those with compromised immune systems are at highest risk, experts caution.

"Of those who do have symptoms, about 20%, maybe 25%, will have the flu-like symptoms — fever, headache, body aches — and it’s very hard to distinguish between that and flu," Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious diseases and addiction medicine doctor and associate professor at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.

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There are also rare, severe neuroinvasive cases, when the virus infects the brain.

"When there's inflammation that leads to meningitis or encephalitis, that's very bad," warned Evans, who is also the CEO and chief medical officer for Wellness Equity Alliance.

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"So if there's ever any severe headaches, stiff neck, disorientation, vision loss, feeling like you're just really confused, and if you're over the age of 65, or have immunocompromising conditions like severe diabetes or cancers, that's when you're going to want to seek emergency management as quickly as possible."

While there are no vaccines or specific treatments for West Nile virus, there are supportive treatments.

"For the flu-like symptoms, generally speaking, if you're not over the age of 65 and you're not immunocompromised, you don't have to go to the emergency room," Evans advised.

"But if you are over the age of 65 and/or have those immunocompromising conditions, and you're starting to experience confusion, headache, stiff neck … ER immediately, [call] 911."

Avoiding mosquito bites is the first line of defense, according to Evans.

"In areas where there are a lot of mosquitoes, DEET is going to be key," he said, recommending repellents that are at least 30% DEET for adults.

In high-burden mosquito areas, he also recommends avoiding the outdoors during sundown.

Health officials also recommend wearing loose, long-sleeved clothing; applying insect repellent (especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active); and ensuring that window screens are secure.

Around homes, eliminating standing water (like that found in buckets, tires and gutters) can help keep mosquitoes from breeding.

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There have been 407 reported human cases of West Nile virus in the U.S. this year, including 285 severe neuroinvasive cases and 23 deaths, according to the latest preliminary CDC data, current as of Sept. 1.

Most West Nile cases are reported in August and September.

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Popular diet slashes liver fat by 67% while reversing prediabetes in some people

The keto diet may have surprising benefits for liver health, a new study suggested.

The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, studied 42 adults who had obesity, prediabetes and excess liver fat.

In a randomized clinical trial, the participants were assigned to three weight-loss diets – a low-carb ketogenic diet, a Mediterranean diet and a low-fat, mostly plant-based diet.

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The keto diet’s calories consisted of about 4% carbohydrates and 73% fat, according to the study. The Mediterranean diet provided about 50% of calories from carbohydrates and 35% from fat, while the low-fat diet provided about 70% of calories from carbohydrates and 15% from fat.

In all three groups, muscle insulin sensitivity improved by about 50%, helping the muscles take up blood sugar more efficiently.

Liver insulin sensitivity improved two to three times as much in the keto group as in the other diet groups.

Liver fat decreased by roughly 67% among people following the keto diet, compared with about 45% among those on the other diets. The reduction was linked to a decrease in the liver’s production of new fat.

Glucose and insulin measures also generally improved more in the keto group. About 50% of participants in that group no longer met the criteria for prediabetes by the end of the trial, compared with 29% of those following the Mediterranean diet and 7% of those on the low-fat diet.

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The study’s short duration and small sample size — about 14 people in each diet group — limit how broadly the findings can be applied to the general population, the researchers said.

The researchers concluded that, among people with obesity, prediabetes and excess liver fat, the composition of a weight-loss diet may influence certain metabolic outcomes beyond the effects of weight loss alone. The keto diet produced the greatest improvements in liver fat and liver insulin sensitivity in this small trial.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein reflected on the study findings.

"I love more and more validation and recognition that calories are not equal," the California-based expert told Fox News Digital.

Muhlstein said people often reduce weight loss to "just a calorie deficit," but this study showed that differences in macronutrients were associated with different changes in health markers despite similar weight loss.

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Although weight loss occurred across all three groups, Muhlstein said the participants experienced different internal metabolic changes. The keto group showed a greater reduction in the liver’s production of new fat, along with metabolic changes consistent with greater fat burning.

Muhlstein explained that excess calories and metabolic dysfunction can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, even in people who do not drink alcohol.

She recommends that anyone with a fatty liver should consider transitioning to a lower carbohydrate diet.

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Muhlstein said reducing carbohydrate intake may encourage the body to use more stored fat for energy.

The findings were notable because the keto group did not experience higher cholesterol or blood-fat measurements during the short study, the expert noted.

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"This is a really interesting study for someone who has prediabetes, someone who had blood sugar irregularity, but maybe still something to be cautious of if someone has heart disease in the family or is at high risk of heart disease," she added.

Overall, Muhlstein said the findings suggest keto may be worth discussing as a short-term option for some people with obesity or prediabetes, particularly because the study found greater reductions in liver fat and higher rates of prediabetes remission — even though weight loss was similar across the three groups.

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"Keto is not something I recommend for anyone long-term because of the high saturated fat, and usually it translates into a lower-fiber diet, which is not good for heart health," Muhlstein said.

"So potentially, it should be something used short-term early on for someone with prediabetes, and then they can transition into Mediterranean, which would be overall helpful for your heart, your brain and so much more."

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Kai Trump reveals emotional college transition, claims she 'hasn't eaten in like three days'

Kai Trump, the 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, detailed her emotional transition to college life in a video posted to her YouTube channel, capturing everything from early-morning team meetings to an unexpected bout of strep throat during her first week at the University of Miami.

The video documents her final days in Jupiter, Florida, before moving into her apartment to join the University of Miami women’s golf team as a freshman.

During the drive home after playing a round of golf before her move, Kai spoke about the stress of leaving her home routine behind.

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"I’ve been like literally sobbing," she said.

"It’s just like really sad that I have to say goodbye to like everyone today. I’m not like a very emotional person at all, so this is like really weird for me to cry."

She added, "I’m just struggling right now just like thinking about it, but like I’m excited."

Once Kai arrived in Miami, her best friend, Emma, helped her move in and brought along groceries to make sure she was eating during the busy move.

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"Emma got me some frozen foods because I haven't eaten in like three days," Kai said in the video.

As classes began, the president’s granddaughter chronicled the early start to her athletic and academic responsibilities, noting a 7 a.m. team meeting on her first Monday.

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"I’m very tired if you guys cannot tell by my face," she said while getting ready.

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The vlog also highlighted her official team gear haul, including Miami-branded apparel and golf equipment, as well as her first team practice. However, her initial week on campus was interrupted when she fell ill shortly after classes began.

"I got sick with strep on Wednesday, my first week of school," Kai told viewers later in the vlog.

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"I came all the way back to Jupiter because I was so sick. I needed like my mom to nurse me back to health."

Trump is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump.

In other recent news involving her family, golfer Tiger Woods arrived alongside Vanessa Trump for Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida that occurred in March.

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Women who start common hormone therapy in their 50s may have 23% lower dementia risk

Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at a certain age may have a lower dementia risk, a new study suggests.

The study, which was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, analyzed UK Biobank data of 183,450 postmenopausal women averaging 60 years of age.

The U.K. researchers determined that HRT use was associated with about a 10% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over a 13-year follow-up period.

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The association was strongest among women who started the therapy between the ages of 46 and 56. It was also high among those who had undergone surgical menopause.

Starting HRT after age 56 was not associated with reduced dementia risk.

Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio, noted that this was an observational study that can’t show cause and effect.

"So, it kind of stays where the data has been for a while — that in certain patients, we have no evidence that it really makes a difference," she told Fox News Digital.

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"And for some patients, such as [those] who go through menopause a little bit younger, whether that's surgically or naturally, or if they have that APOE ε4 genotype that predisposes them to dementia, there may be some benefit."

The researchers also stated that as this was an observational study, it could not establish that HRT prevents dementia, but only showed an association.

The study also did not assess any safety outcomes or adverse events related to HRT.

Women who use HRT may differ from non-users in other ways that affect dementia risk, such as their overall health, lifestyle or access to healthcare, the researchers noted.

Although researchers adjusted for many of these factors, some unmeasured differences could still factor into the lower dementia risk seen among HRT users.

The study also did not have detailed information on the types of hormone therapy, the way they were administered or the specific dosages women took.

Most of the people in the study were of European ancestry and tended to be better off financially, so the findings may not apply equally to people from other populations.

This study alone likely doesn't warrant seeking out HRT just for dementia prevention, Fiffick said.

"However, if you're having symptoms, if you feel not yourself, come in, talk to your doctor, have that conversation," she advised.

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There is some data linking menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, with vascular changes in the brain, the doctor noted.

"So we are very hopeful to see that treating those symptoms may prevent the vascular changes that lead to vascular dementia, but we just don't have that data right now," she said. "So, it's worth the conversation, it's worth bringing up, but I wouldn't go out of your way for just this purpose."

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HRT does carry some known risks and side effects, Fiffick noted.

For oral versions of estrogen, there may be an increased risk of blood clots. That risk does not appear to exist for transdermal options, such as patches, gels and creams.

Other types of HRT may impact breast activity, overall inflammation, cardiovascular markers and cardiometabolic markers, according to the doctor.

"So it's not one size fits all, and it's really worth an extensive conversation."

The U.K. researchers plan to conduct randomized controlled trials to confirm that HRT reduces dementia risk. Future studies will include factors such as estrogen-only versus combined therapy, dosage amounts, administration route, treatment duration, age at the start of therapy, menopause type and potentially APOE genotype.

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"I think the more we have studies like this, the more we're going to propel forward the randomized controlled trials to really give women the data they deserve," Fiffick concluded.

"Women deserve to have information to use to make decisions about their bodies. So I'm excited to see the trends heading in that direction."

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