According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, a woman in Connecticut who was in her 90s succumbed to the tick-borne Powassan disease last month.
According to the department, symptoms included fever, nausea, vomiting, and altered mental state. Two weeks prior to her symptoms, she had a tick removed and laboratory tests revealed that she was positive for the Powassan virus.
According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, another person died from Powassan virus in April after being admitted with neurological symptoms.
Blacklegged ticks spread the virus to humans, but humans cannot pass it on to one another. Many people infected with the virus don’t experience any symptoms. In rare cases, Powassan can cause brain inflammation or meningitis. This is the swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal chord.
Manisha Juthani (Connecticut’s public health commissioner), said that the recent Connecticut death “reminds” residents to take steps to prevent tick bites from now until late fall.
Powassan cases tend to be recorded from this time period because deer ticks can be particularly active between late spring and midfall. Juthani stated that the arachnids are capable of transmitting the virus within 15 minutes of attaching themselves to the body.
The virus is most common in the Northeastern and Great Lakes areas of the United States. This region is home to deer ticks. Most cases in the past decade were in New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York.
As deer ticks spread more widely, U.S. Powassan has seen an increase in cases over the past decade. In 2020, 20 Powassan cases were identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 39 Powassan cases in 2019, according to data. Comparatively, only 12 cases were reported in 2011.
From 2011 to 2020, eleven percent of the 194 cases in the U.S. were fatal. This is consistent with the overall death rate of 10 to 15% for people who have symptoms.
People who become sick typically feel symptoms within a week to a month of being infected. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, weakness, and headaches. There are more severe symptoms, such as confusion, loss or coordination, difficulty talking and seizures. In the United States, neuroinvasive disease was responsible for more than 90% of all cases.
Powassan virus is not treatable. Doctors usually provide fluids, fever-reducing medication, or medicine to reduce brain swelling. Long-term effects may include recurring headaches and muscle weakness, memory problems, and memory loss.
The CDC suggests that you avoid areas of tall grass or wooded vegetation to prevent tick bites. Before going camping, gardening, or other outdoor activities, it is a good idea to apply insect repellant. Long sleeves, long pants and pants that are tucked in to socks can help. You can also spray clothing and camping gear with the insecticide permethrin.
According to the CDC, you should check your pets for ticks and spray your yard with pesticides. You should also mow your lawn often.