Treatment and Prevention

Treatment of Heartland virus disease is supportive only. Many patients diagnosed with the disease have required hospitalization. With supportive care, most people have fully recovered; however, a few older individuals with medical comorbidities have died.

The best way to prevent Heartland virus infection is to avoid exposure to ticks. Protective actions people can take include avoiding wooded and bushy areas with high grass, using repellents, and finding and removing ticks before they attach. More information about reducing exposure to ticks is available on the CDC ticks website.