A tick-borne illness is rearing its head in China after first being discovered nearly a decade ago. The virus causes cough and fever, and can be fatal in some cases.
While the world is still reeling from the novel coronavirus pandemic, a previously-known virus has popped up again in China and has already claimed at least seven lives and infected dozens of others. Chinese state media reports that the virus originates in ticks, and that being bitten by the tiny bugs is the primary route of transmission. However, researchers in China say that it may be possible to spread the viral infection from person to person under certain circumstances. The virus could be passed through either blood or mucous, health experts say, but ticks are still the biggest danger. The virus, which has been slowly spreading throughout the first half of the year, is known as the SFTS Virus.
