Powassan virus resurges in New England, traced to a 1958 Ontario case

Powassan virus, a rare tick‑borne illness, is being diagnosed more often in the northeastern U.S., especially New England, carried by blacklegged (deer) ticks and can cause neuroinvasive disease. Its roots trace to a 4-year-old boy’s fatal illness near Powassan, Ontario, in 1958, linking the virus to ticks on a farm. In 2025, 76 Americans were diagnosed—a record—primarily in New England and the Upper Midwest. Prevention centers on tick checks, protective clothing, prompt tick removal, and deer-management efforts, though there is no simple fix for the growing tick problem.