Thus, the evolution of AHFV is clearly determined by ticks because all the most closely related viruses are also known to be associated with ticks, although in at least 1 case (Powassan virus) there is some evidence that the virus is also found in mosquitoes (9).
AHFV is the first human pathogenic RNA virus to be detected in O.
Second, the wide distribution of Ornithodoros ticks in the region suggests that the geographic limits of AHFV may be larger than presently assumed.
Whether AHFV has similar features is unknown, but if so this finding could account for 2 peaks of cases during the year (8 cases from March to June, 3 cases from September to October).
Although the number of reported cases is low, case histories suggest that AHFV may have infected humans through various routes (oral, direct contact, tick bite), as previously demonstrated for other flaviviruses vectored by ticks (12).
