A new tick-borne virus that can trigger deadly brain infections has been discovered in humans for the first time.

Officials believe the unidentified man, from China, got infected after he was bitten by ticks when visiting a park in Mongolia.

Dubbed wetland virus (WELV), tests have since shown it has now infected nearly two dozen people.

Spread by ticks and farm animals, the potentially fatal infection joins a long roster of diseases passed by tiny parasites, like Lyme disease and malaria.

It was first detected in the 61-year-old hospital patient while being treated in Jinzhou in 2019. But medics have only released the report this month.

Officials believe the unidentified man, from China, got infected after he was bitten by ticks when visiting a park in Mongolia

Getting rid of a tick from your own skin is crucial to avoid the risk of infection, or contracting other diseases including Lyme disease. The NHS has a four-step routine to help safely spot and remove ticks

His symptoms, which included a fever, headache, vomiting, poor appetite, and infected lymph nodes, developed five days after the visit and he was prescribed antibiotics.

It was only when they failed to subside that doctors realised the man was suffering a viral infection rather than a bacterial one.

Blood tests then identified a previously unknown orthonairovirus, a group of related viruses, many of which are transmitted by ticks.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), one better-known orthonairovirus, can prove fatal in up to 40 per cent of cases.

People become infected after contact with blood or tissue of infected livestock.

It can also spread between humans through bodily fluids or among hospital patients if medical equipment is not properly sterilised.

Following this discovery, researchers collected around 14,600 ticks across Northern China.

They found that five different tick species could carry the virus. But but the Haemaphysalis concinna tick was most common.

After testing hospital patients who had developed a similar fever to the unidentified 61-year-old, within a month of a tick bite, they found 20 were positive with the virus.

Those infected with WELV most commonly suffered dizziness, headaches, back pain, nausea and diarrhoea.

But tests also showed the virus could even cause tissue damage and blood clotting issues.

One WELV-infected patient slipped into a coma and showed a high level of white blood cells around the brain and spinal cord.

However all patients recovered after treatment and were discharged within four to 15 days, according to the researchers.

Lab experiments on mice later found WELV could cause severe, often fatal infections, affecting multiple organs including the brain and nervous system.

This suggests that while the virus may be mild in some cases, it could causes more severe health issues in more vulnerable patients.

Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers said: ‘Taken together, these data suggest that a newly discovered orthonairovirus, WELV, is [pathogenic] to humans … and circulates among humans, ticks and various animals in northeastern China.

‘Improving surveillance and detection for emerging orthonairoviruses will allow a better understanding of the effect that these viruses have on human health.’

The Goonies fans issued a desperate plea on Monday after following the sequel announcement of a sequel.

The 1985 adventure-comedy has reportedly been given the green light for a second instalment – almost 40 years after the original – with its original star-studded cast set to return.

But while some fans were delighted at the prospect, others couldn’t help but feel they should have left the film alone.

Fans shared: ‘The Goonies is getting a sequel. I cannot express how much I hate this’; ‘God….. Not a Goonies Sequel now..’

The Goonies fans issued a desperate plea on Monday after following the sequel announcement of a sequel

‘But the whole appeal of Goonies is a bunch of kids going on an adventure with a treasure map. It’s something we all imagined doing as kids. If it turns into a bunch of weird or overweight adults going back to get some hidden treasure to pay off their bills, it’ll lose its magic.’

‘I feel sick they are gonna stuff this up so bad. I’m 42 and have loved the goonies all my life. Even my kids…19…15…11 (and by 2026, my 3yo will be 5) will want to see this, so hopefully they just do it right.’

Meanwhile, some were delighted writing: ‘I have never been so ecstatic and pumped a 2nd Goonies movie !!!!!! Yesssssss’; ‘There’s going to be a Goonies sequel in the works wow should be epic just like the original’; ‘Is it true… Spielberg is making a follow up to The Goonies? Excellent if it is.’

The 1985 beloved adventure-comedy film was directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg.

And now the cast is set to make an iconic return as production for the sequel could reportedly start next summer, according to The Sun.

The second film, which has now been given the ‘green light’ for production, could hit cinemas as soon as 2026.

A source said: ‘The Goonies reboot has been talked about for a long time but it’s finally been given the green light to go ahead.’

But while some fans were delighted at the prospect, others couldn’t help but feel they should have left the film alone

Meanwhile, some were delighted writing: ‘I have never been so ecstatic and pumped a 2nd Goonies movie !!!!!! Yesssssss’

The 1985 beloved adventure-comedy film was directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg

The second film, which has now been given the ‘green light’ for production, could hit cinemas as soon as 2026

They added: ‘The plan is to start developing the ideas for the follow up next summer, with a possible release date of 2026 or 2027.

‘The original is so culturally significant, Warner Bros’ know they have to get it totally right.’

Production teams acknowledge the possibilities of where to take the sequel are ‘endless’ and the team are already excited to get started as they was to ‘bring the magic of the film to a whole new audience’.

The film, written by Chris Columbus, has become a classic hallmark of ’80s cinema, known for its mix of action, humor, and heart.

The film follows a group of kids from the ‘Goon Docks’ neighborhood in Astoria, Oregon, who discover an old treasure map in the attic of one of their homes.

This map leads them on a thrilling quest to find the long-lost treasure of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate.

Along the way, they must outsmart a family of criminals, the Fratellis, who are also after the treasure.

Not only will the sequels be an iconic throwback for decades of fans, but it was also be a huge throwback for the cast as many of the original members are said to star.

The second film, which has now been given the ‘green light’ for production, could hit cinemas as soon as 2026

The ant Lasius emarginatus lives in many different places, if the countries of Europe count as “places.” But if we step outside Europe (as well as the connected neck of Asia where the ant also lives), its habitat suddenly becomes very small. In the Americas, we spotted it in just New York City. Smaller than that: We saw it just in Manhattan. In 2012, we noted its distribution as between 63rd and 76th streets in Manhattan, though it’s been expanding every year since then.

People in Manhattan dubbed it the ManhattAnt. Which prompts the question: “Wait, were there no ants in Manhattan before they discovered this one?” There were — dozens of species of ants — but people tended not to notice them since the bugs stayed in parks or otherwise at ground level. The ManhattAnt, in contrast, adapted to the borough’s verticality, making its way into apartments 25 stories high.

Apartment dwellers who previously felt very comfortable leaving bowls of cookie crumbs on every surface suddenly became aware of and embarrassed by the kind of slobs they are. But the ManhattAnt doesn’t really eat crumbs or other human foods. It just eats other bugs. That means there were always bugs in your high-rise, folks. Some bugs are just better at hiding.

We don’t think the Grand Canyon existed six million years ago. But squirrels existed, including the Abert’s squirrel, which was named, of course, after some guy named Abert. Then the canyon popped into place, thank to the Colorado River flowing and the land moving around. After a few million years, some squirrels found themselves north of the canyon, while others found themselves south.

The south squirrels are the Abert squirrel and have a wide presence in the world, including in Mexico and in the Southwest of the U.S. The north squirrels, however, became their own species. They’re called Kaibab squirrels because they’re stuck on that bit north of the canyon, the Kaibab plateau.

It can’t move north because the north is the desert. It can’t move south because the south is the canyon — and while it can physically descend that way easily enough, the climate in the canyon is just as inhospitable for this narrowly evolved squirrel as the desert is.

So, it’s trapped there. Luckily, it doesn’t want to go anywhere else, as far as we know. The Kaibab plateau has all the acorns and fruit it wants.

One of the officers involved in the dramatic arrest of Dolphins star Tyreek Hill has been placed on administrative duties amid an internal investigation into the incident.

The wide receiver was pinned to the ground and handcuffed by cops while making his way to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday morning.

A few hours later a statement from Miami-Dade Police chief Stephanie V. Daniels – reported by NFL network – revealed that the officer has been put on administrative duties during ‘a thorough review of the matter’.

American Idol winner Laine Hardy’s life is on an upswing.

The 2019 winner has proposed to his girlfriend Jordan Gautreau and she’s expecting their first child.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native shared a short video clip and some photos on Instagram in a joint post with Jordan announcing the news.

‘We are so excited for this chapter of our lives. Looking forward to God’s plan for us. The biggest surprise and the easiest YES! Can’t wait for our new title as parents and to plan a wedding.’

American Idol winner Laine Hardy’s life is on an upswing. The 2019 winner has proposed to his girlfriend Jordan Gautreau, who is expecting their first child

Hardy and Gautreau, who is a cheerleader for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, have not shared how they met or fell in love.

The country singer rose to fame after winning season 17 of American Idol in 2019.

‘I was just 17 years old when I first tried out for American Idol, and at the time, I couldn’t have ever imagined where I was headed,’ Hardy wrote on Instagram in October 2022.

‘Since then, I’ve been able to tour across America, play for our troops in Asia and make new fans in Europe. I had to grow up quickly and I am still learning more about myself every day.’

He’s largely been out of the public eye since 2022 when he was arrested for putting a wire in his ex-girlfriend’s dorm room to spy on her at Louisiana State University.

The musician’s voice could allegedly be heard while the device was being planted, the papers claim.

At the time, an unnamed source told Louisiana news station WAFB that Hardy was accused of spying on a female LSU resident.

The 2019 winner has proposed to his girlfriend Jordan Gautreau, she’s expecting their first child and he’s releasing new music

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native shared a short video clip and some photos on Instagram in a joint post with Jordan announcing the news

‘the secret is out…. I’m having his babyyy,’ the caption began

‘We are so excited for this chapter of our lives. Looking forward to God’s plan for us. The biggest surprise and the easiest YES! Can’t wait for our new title as parents and to plan a wedding’

Laine won season 17 of American Idol in 2018

Hardy confirmed the news on Instagram at the time, writing, ‘Earlier today, I received a warrant due to allegations made against me and have been fully cooperative with the Louisiana State University Police Department.

‘I understand that my career has thrust me into the public spotlight, and I embrace that wholeheartedly as my entire world belongs to my music and my fans.

‘However, due to the sensitive nature of this allegation, I humbly ask for privacy at this time.

‘I have the utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.’