During the summer, most people are ready to spend their vacations outside with friends and family. Activities such as camping, hiking, or hunting are preferred by many as they are allowed to get in touch with nature. However, fun outdoor activities are sometimes tainted when someone returns home with an insect-borne disease.
The Spread of a Killer Virus
A patient from Sagadahoc County, Maine, died after being infected with Powassan virus disease, acquired from a tick bite. It is the first reported case of the virus attack in 2023 and the third recorded death since 2015.
Health official from Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the death of the adult patient in the hospital after showing severe neurological symptoms. It was only days after a public health advisory on tick-borne diseases was issued.
The disease is extremely rare, having only 202 cases across the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. However, the number of cases has risen in recent years. In fact, out of the 15 reported cases in Maine since 2015, four of them were recorded in 2022 alone.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of the reported cases of Powassan virus disease are from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region. Based on the data gathered from 2012 to 2021, it was revealed that Massachusetts had the highest number of reported cases. 2019 is also the period with the highest number of disease cases.
READ ALSO: The Tick Problem-What Are The Chances That You'll Survive the Spring, Powassan-Free?
What is Powassan Virus Disease?
Powassan virus disease is an infection that affects the brain, the nearby membranes, and the spinal cord. It can cause severe disease; one in 10 individuals who show severe symptoms die, while half of those who survive suffer long-term health problems.
Ticks get infected when they suck the blood of rodents that serve as carriers of the virus. The virus is transmitted to other people by biting an infected tick. Deer or black-legged ticks usually spread this pathogen, but squirrel ticks and groundhog ticks can also carry it. Although the disease cannot be spread by human contact, an infected person is not advised to donate blood or bone marrow 120 days after the bite.
Many people infected with the Powassan virus do not show symptoms and fully recover. Professor Daniel Pastula confirmed this from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. For those with signs of infection, it will take one week to one month after being bitten before they feel sick.
There are still no vaccines to treat or prevent the spread of the Powassan virus. The best method anyone could have is to prevent themselves from being bitten in the first place. Tick exposure can be prevented by avoiding places with shrubs or long grass and using products such as EPA-approved tick repellent. When going to these areas, spraying your clothes with the insecticide permethrin is recommended. Another effective measure is wearing light-colored clothes that can cover the arms and legs. After any outdoor activity, it is advised to conduct a self-check to look for ticks and to put the clothing on high heat inside the dryer before washing.
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