The Powassan virus is transmitted by ticks.
Health officials are warning people about the deadly Powassan virus disease, a non-treatable disease spread by ticks, after the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said a Sagadahoc County resident died of the rare virus.
According to The independent, up to 25 people in the U.S. are infected each year, with the most recent death marking the third fatal case in Maine since 2015, Fox News reported.
Powassan virus is usually transmitted to humans through bites from infected deer ticks, woodchucks, or squirrel ticks, usually in the Great Lakes region of North America between late spring and mid-fall.
While Powassan cases are rare, more cases have been documented in recent years. Powassan virus infections in humans have been reported in the US, Canada and Russia.
Here are details regarding Powassan virus symptoms and how to protect yourself:
Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of people infected with the Powassan virus have no symptoms. For people with symptoms, the time between a tick bite and feeling sick ranges from 1 week to 1 month.
Many people infected with the Powassan virus have no symptoms. For people with symptoms, the time between a tick bite and feeling sick ranges from 1 week to 1 month.
The first symptoms can be fever, headache, vomiting and weakness.
The Powassan virus can cause serious illness, including infection of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
Symptoms of a serious illness include confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking and seizures.
About 1 in 10 people with a serious illness die.
About half of people who survive a serious illness have long-term health problems such as recurrent headaches, loss of muscle mass and strength, and memory problems.
Therapy
There are no medications to prevent or treat infection with the Powassan virus. Antibiotics do not treat viruses.
Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers can relieve some symptoms.
People with serious illness often need to be hospitalized to get breathing support, stay hydrated, or reduce swelling in the brain.
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