Kansas resident diagnosed with rare tick-borne illness.
A resident of Crawford County, Kansas, has been diagnosed with Heartland Virus Disease, a rare tickborne illness transmitted by the bite of an infected Lone Star Tick. This is the first case of Heartland in Crawford County and only the third case identified in Kansas since the virus was discovered in northwest Missouri in 2009. Symptoms of Heartland are vague and include fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, headache and occasionally a rash. The discovery of this case of Heartland should serve as a reminder to take precautions when taking part in outdoor activities.