Heartland: Causes and How It Spreads

Key points

  • Heartland virus disease (Heartland) is caused by a virus spread through the bite of an infected tick.
  • The tick that spreads Heartland virus is found in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central United States.
Lone star tick on a leaf

Primary cause

Heartland is caused by a virus that has been found in eastern, southeastern, and south-central United States.

It is related to a virus found in Asia, called severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.

How it spreads

Information from patients and from laboratory studies suggest that the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) can transmit the virus.

It is not known if other species of ticks might also spread the virus or if people can be infected in other ways.

Prevent getting sick with Heartland by preventing tick bites.