Powassan virus reported in Massachusetts town; Residents urged to avoid tick bites
SHARON - A rare tick-borne disease has been reported in Massachusetts. The town of Sharon recently confirmed a case of the potentially deadly Powassan virus.
The town's website says this is the first time Powassan has been reported in Sharon, and residents are urged to take precautions against ticks. No information was released about the infected person.
So far in 2024, two reported cases of the virus are being investigated in Massachusetts.
The Powassan virus can be fatal. A Maine man in his 50s developed neurological symptoms and died from the illness after getting infected last year.
Powassan virus symptoms
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Powassan "causes a rare, but often serious disease." Sixteen cases have been diagnosed in the state in the last decade,
Most people exposed to Powassan will never get sick, but some can get seriously ill with meningitis or encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.
Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, loss of coordination, confusion, speech difficulties and seizures, DPH says. The symptoms typically begin between one week and a month after a tick bite.
"Approximately 10% of people with this severe form of the disease will die and survivors may have long-term health problems," the agency says.
However, those whose symptoms are severe enough to be hospitalized are in greater danger.
"Those who contract the disease and end up receiving treatment in the hospital, nearly 40% of them succumb to the disease," tells Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of Tick-Borne Illnesses at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. "The rest of those people, who survive the virus, they may suffer long-term neurologic symptoms."
There is no cure or specific treatment for Powassan.
How to protect yourself from Powassan
Powassan is spread by black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. These ticks also spread more common viruses like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. And 2024 is expected to have more ticks than 2023 due to the warm winter.
More concerning, Powassan is easier to spread than Lyme disease. To transmit Lyme disease, a tick must bite a person for 24 to 36 hours. To transmit Powassan, the tick only needs to bite for 15 to 30 minutes, Molaei said.
The best way to prevent infection is to lower your chance of a tick bite.
DPH recommends using repellent with DEET when outside, wearing long and light-colored clothing, and staying on trails when hiking. Tucking pant legs into socks can also help. People should also check for ticks and shower if they think they may have been exposed to any.
