On Wednesday, April 20, the Maine CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the death of a patient infected with the Powassan virus. This virus is spread through the bites of infected ticks, which belong to the species Ixodes scapularis or deer tick, Ixodes cookei or groundhog tick, and Ixodes marxi or squirrel tick. The patient was a resident of Waldo County in south-central Maine.
According to the Maine CDC, the Powassan virus is rare in the United States. Since 2015, only 25 cases per year have been recorded in the country. Cases are usually reported in the northeast and Great Lakes regions in late spring to mid-autumn. As for Maine, the state has had 14 cases since 2010.
–
According to Maine CDC Director Nirav D. Shah, the ticks are currently active and searching for hosts. He asked the people of Maine and visitors to take the necessary measures to avoid bites.
The effects of the virus
What happens when you are infected with the Powassan virus? According to the CDC, most affected people do not show symptoms. But when it does, infected people have a fever and headache, and they may also vomit and feel tired.
Some patients may develop encephalitis, or infection of the brain, or meningitis, or infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. When a person develops these infections, they may show signs of confusion and loss of coordination, have difficulty speaking, and even have seizures. According to the CDC, approximately 10% of people with a severe form of the disease die from the infection.
The patient who succumbed to the disease in Maine had developed neurological symptoms and died while in hospital.
What about treatment?
There is no specific treatment when a person is infected with the Powassan virus. Hospitalization is however required for people with a severe form. In the hospital, they will need to receive supportive care including a ventilator, hydration, and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling in the brain.
The Maine CDC advises that the best way to protect yourself from Powassan virus is to avoid tick bites. To do this, avoid wooded areas or areas with tall grass, and try as much as possible to stay in the middle of the trail when hiking. You can also use insect repellents and wash your clothes with permethrin.
Experts say the most likely cause behind the increase in Powassan virus infections in the United States in recent years is the expanding range of deer ticks. This extension of the tick population is due in particular to the increase in temperature and humidity, as well as the increase in the populations of deer and mice.
SOURCE: Livescience
–
