WHAT IS POWASSAN VIRUS: SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND MORE

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Powassan is a virus-borne tick-borne disease. It can cause swelling in the brain (a condition known as encephalitis) as well as in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (you may hear this called meningitis).

Only about 166 cases have been reported in the United States in the last ten years, with one in ten proving fatal. Experts warn, however, that the disease may spread faster now that it is transmitted by the deer tick – the same tick that spreads Lyme disease.

Powassan spreads faster from ticks to humans than Lyme disease. Although the viral infection is typically mild, it can be fatal in a small number of cases, and in severe cases, some symptoms, such as weakness and memory loss, can be permanent.

As a result, health officials warn residents of the Northeast and Great Lakes states, where the virus frequently spreads, to take precautions to avoid infection.

HOW DOES POWASSAN VIRUS SPREAD?

When ticks infected with the Powassan virus bite humans, they spread the virus. Previously, it was primarily spread by ticks that rarely bite humans, such as woodchuck ticks and others. However, the virus is now also carried by the deer tick, which is more likely to bite humans.

Ticks that carry Powassan are mostly found in wooded areas of the Northeast and Great Lakes. Ticks are most active in the late spring, early summer, and late fall.

Not every tick carries the virus, and not everyone who is bitten becomes ill. Infected ticks, on the other hand, can transmit it quickly – within minutes of attaching to a person. Lyme disease takes much longer to spread from tick to human (24 to 48 hours).

Powassan cannot be caught from another person.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF POWASSAN VIRUS?

The majority of Powassan infections are minor. Some people have no symptoms. If you do, they will appear between a week and a month after you were bitten and may include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Vomiting

• Weakness

• Confusion and memory issues

• Having difficulty walking and talking

• Seizures

Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms and believe you have been bitten by a tick. For severe symptoms, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

HOW IS POWASSAN VIRUS DIAGNOSED?

Your doctor will ask you the following questions:

• What are your symptoms?

• When did they begin?

• Could you have come into contact with ticks?

You may need blood and spinal fluid tests to look for antibodies produced by your immune system to combat the Powassan virus.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR POWASSAN VIRUS?

Although there is no specific drug or procedure that treats Powassan, and many cases are mild, doctors can manage symptoms. If yours is severe, you may need to go to a hospital for treatment, such as:

• Breathing assistance

• Fluids passing through a vein (IV)

• Anti-swelling medication for the brain

Powassan symptoms typically resolve on their own with supportive care, but half of survivors experience long-term issues such as memory loss, weakness, and headaches.

HOW TO PREVENT POWASSAN VIRUS

Avoiding tick bites is the best way to protect yourself from Powassan and other tick-borne diseases:

• When possible, avoid wooded or grassy areas.

• When you're out in the woods, apply a DEET-containing insect repellent to all exposed skin. Permethrin should also be applied to your clothing and equipment. Remember that repellents only work for a few hours.

• When you return inside, check your entire body for ticks. Don't overlook your scalp.

• Check your clothes and pets as well.

• To find and remove any ticks on your skin, take a bath or shower.

There is no vaccine available to prevent the illness.