Ticks are spreading deadly Powassan virus, CDC warns

health

To Mark Laranilla

May 30, 2023 | 5:54 PM

Lyme disease, a notorious disease spread by ticks, has a deadly, rapidly spreading disease.

Doctors also warn that ticks are rapidly spreading the Poissan virus. Poissan virus is a little-known, incurable disease that causes a potentially fatal disease.

A 58-year-old man in Maine died this month of complications from powassan. The Washington Post reportedbecoming the first death in 2023 related to the disease.

Also, many doctors are not familiar with this once-rare disease, so an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. The Maine resident was hospitalized for several weeks before doctors discovered the cause of his illness.

However, the number of infected people is increasing rapidly, According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionIn 2015, only six Poissin cases were recorded in the United States, but a record-breaking 39 cases were reported in 2019.

By comparison, the CDC estimates that Lyme disease affects about 476,000 Americans each year. Other tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are also on the rise, even in areas where tick-borne diseases were once rare.

“Nine years of data show that [an] Tick-borne diseases are on the rise in parts of the United States that previously had few cases,” said Megan Swanson, an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Parasitosis and Malaria Division. told NBC News.

Powassan is of particular concern due to the ease with which the disease spreads. It takes a tick attached to a human to transmit Lyme disease in him 36-48 hours, while Powassan her virus infects in just 15 minutes.

And even if you get infected with the Powassan virus, you don’t always have symptoms. If infected, flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and vomiting may appear a week to a month after the patient is bitten.

More serious symptoms may include inflammation of the brain or spine, confusion, seizures, and difficulty speaking or coordinating.

Most cases of Powassan virus are originated in the northeastern United States — from Maine south into Virginia — and west across the Great Lakes region into Minnesota. Other cases have also been reported in Russia and Canada (the first known case occurred in Poissan, Ontario in 1958).

There is no cure for powassan, so doctors most often prescribe rest, hydration, and over-the-counter pain relievers that can last up to a month.

In more severe cases, hospitalization may be required to help with breathing and reduce swelling in the brain. About 10% of patients with severe Poissin die. According to the Maine CDC. Those who survive may have long-term health problems such as headaches, memory problems, and muscle weakness.

Some health experts say that a warming climate will accelerate the spread of powassan and other tick-borne diseases, as the mild winter and early spring seasons create optimal conditions for warm-weather pests such as ticks. there is

The main season of tick activity and tick-borne disease reporting usually begins in March and peaks in May and June, with a second, smaller increase in mid-autumn.

The most effective ways to protect yourself from tick-borne diseases are to use repellents in areas with high tick populations, wear clothing that covers your skin, and check yourself and your pets for ticks. .

But with Moderna, Pfizer and Valneva both developing vaccines for Lyme disease, which could be as early as 2025, there is hope on the horizon.