The second case of the deadly Powassan virus. The disease is spread by ticks

The second incident of Powassan infection has been reported in the United States in recent weeks. The previous one was fatal. In both cases, the infection was caused by a tick bite and caused dangerous neurological complications.

1. A man infected with the Powassan virus died in Maine three weeks ago
2. Another case is a 50-year-old from Connecticut. However, he is slowly recovering from the hospital
3. Powassan virus is transmitted by ticks. Mortality reaches up to 15 percent.
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Powassan virus – second case in the US

And the United States has found a second case of the rare lethal Powassan virus in a matter of weeks. One person died in Maine in April. He was a man of undisclosed age, his death resulted from serious neurological complications.

Now another victim of the virus is recovering in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) reported that a man in his 50s fell ill in March. The virus attacked his central nervous system and hospitalization was necessary.

Powassan virus – what do we know about it?

Powassan virus belongs to the flaviviruses. It is spread from animals to humans, most often by being bitten by several species of ticks. In the United States, these are mainly Black Leg ticks, which, according to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are most common in the north-eastern regions of the country. Mice, squirrels, marmots, skunks and white-tailed eagles are also a reservoir of the virus.

Powassan virus does not spread from person to person.

The virus is named after the city where it was first discovered. In 1958 in Powassan, Ontario, Canada, he was discovered in a young boy who died of encephalitis.

Powassan virus – symptoms

The time of virus transfer to the human body is a maximum of 30 minutes. Symptoms appear from a week to a month after the bite, according to other data, this period is 8-34 days. The most common symptoms are headaches, dizziness, fever, chills, malaise, vomiting, speech problems. In many cases, it causes encephalitis.

Half of those infected may experience symptoms much later, even after several years. These are mainly neurological problems, partial body paralysis, memory problems, headaches, muscle pains, and impaired motor coordination.

However, in most cases, infection is asymptomatic.

According to CDC data, death occurs in 10-15 percent. infected. Since 2015, there have been 25 Powassan infections per year in the US, up from about 10 previously.

There is no vaccine yet, and no effective treatments have been invented.

“The case of a Connecticut resident diagnosed with Powassan disease is a reminder of the need for action to prevent tick bites from now until late fall,” said DPH Commissioner Dr Manisha Juthani.

Powassan virus – prevention

Juthani also suggested what specific preventive measures should be taken.

“Using insect repellants, avoiding tick-likely areas, and carefully checking for ticks when you return home can reduce the risk of contracting the virus,” she said.

Experts at the CDC’s Maine office warn that those camping or hiking in wooded areas should reduce the risk of tick bites. This means sticking to established routes and not going into deep brushwood.

You should also wear clothes with long sleeves and legs, and use repellants. After returning from tick-prone areas, everyone should carefully check for insects, then take a shower and wash their clothes.

“Ticks are particularly active right now and looking for hosts,” said Nirav D. Shah, CDC Maine director Nirav D. Shah. – I urge the people of Maine to do everything to prevent tick bites.

There are no preventive or antiviral drugs. Symptomatic treatment is applied for mild symptoms, hospitalization is required in severe cases.