Last summer, an Illinois resident tested positive for a rare tick-born virus.
The Heartland Virus has been confirmed in a sampling of ticks from Kankakee County...where one person contracted the virus last year. Public health's Samantha Debosick says it's transmitted through the bite of an infected Lone Star Tick.
"The Lone Star Tick can be found throughout Illinois. The Lone Star Tick is a very aggressive tick that bites humans. The adult female has a white dot -- or a lone star on her back -- and the nymph and adult females are the life stages most frequently to bite humans. Most people become ill between May and September and experience symptoms two weeks after a tick bite. "
She says if you get bitten by a tick...you should watch for symptoms, which include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and diarrhea.
Most people infected need to be hospitalized but fully recover, although a few have died.
