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“We really don't know how significant it will be because with only two cases known in the United States, there are a lot of unanswered questions," said Kristie Bradley, Oklahoma epidemiologist.

Symptoms include fever, severe muscle, joint pain, fatigue, disorientation, diarrhea and a rash.

Tests ruled out all the usual suspected viruses and the CDC eventually confirmed it was Bourbon virus.

At this time, there is no treatment for Bourbon virus infections since it doesn't respond the same way other viruses do to antibiotics.

Doctors say the Oklahoma patient was given plenty of fluids and had to wait for the virus to run its course.

“Among the two cases of Bourbon virus, the Kansas case did die and our Oklahoma patient recovered fully,” said Kristie Bradford, Oklahoma epidemiologist.

Tick borne diseases, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and tularemia, are relatively common in Oklahoma.

Symptoms of those illnesses include fever, chills, headache, vomiting, rash or painful swelling of lymph nodes near the tick bite.

Most of the common tick borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics.

Experts say it is important to seek medical attention if signs of illness are noticed within 14 days of a tick bite or being in an area where ticks are prevalent.

CDC officials are unsure about where the virus came from, but Staples speculated the virus may have always been there, albeit with less severe symptoms. In other words, the man may have just experienced complications from a less severe form of the illness; one that hadn’t previously caused someone to seek medical attention. Or, the virus could have changed or evolved to become more dangerous, she said.