ATLANTA, June 23 (Our Illinois Times) — For people in tick-heavy parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Powassan virus is rare but rising in reported cases and can still cause life-threatening brain infection after a tick bite.
The CDC says initial symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness. In more severe cases, the virus can cause encephalitis or meningitis, which may lead to confusion, loss of coordination, speech problems, seizures, paralysis and other neurologic deficits.
Unlike many tick-borne illnesses, Powassan can spread quickly. The Defense Centers for Public Health–Aberdeen says studies show transmission can happen in as little as 15 minutes of feeding, while a peer-reviewed case report said human infection can occur within hours of a tick attaching.
CDC says most U.S. cases are reported in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, especially from late spring through mid-fall when ticks are active. The agency says children, older adults and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of neuroinvasive disease.
The CDC says about 10% of Powassan neuroinvasive cases are fatal and about half of survivors have lasting neurologic problems. It also says there are no vaccines and no medicines to treat Powassan virus disease. The agency says the virus can rarely be transmitted through blood transfusion.
