A newly identified tick-borne virus, wetland virus, was first discovered in China in 2019 after a patient exhibited symptoms like fever and headache following a tick bite.
Researchers sequenced the blood sample and found this unknown virus related to others such as the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Further investigations revealed 17 more cases in northeastern China, suggesting the virus is established in the region. Although it has only been found in China, the tick species involved has a broader distribution, indicating potential widespread presence. The emergence of such diseases underscores the need for better surveillance and understanding.