All articles tagged with #penobscot county
The Maine Center for Disease Control confirmed a fourth case of Powassan virus in the state for 2026, affecting an adult in Penobscot County. This is the second infection in that county this year, following cases in Lincoln and York counties. The rare, potentially fatal brain infection is transmitted by ticks and has no specific treatment.
For the first time this year, a person in Maine has tested positive for Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness transmitted by deer ticks in Penobscot County. The Maine CDC notes there are no vaccines or medicines to prevent Powassan, and severe disease can occur (encephalitis or meningitis) with about 10% mortality among those with severe illness and many survivors facing long-term health problems. Maine has reported 41 Powassan cases since 2000.
Over the past two years, Penobscot County in Maine has experienced its largest HIV outbreak, with 26 cases since October 2023, primarily among homeless individuals and drug users, driven by factors like housing shortages, drug use, and strained healthcare resources. Public health efforts have focused on testing, harm reduction, and outreach, but funding cuts and service closures threaten to hinder ongoing response efforts.
Maine has reported its first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) since 2015, involving a Penobscot County resident who remains hospitalized. The Maine CDC is awaiting confirmation from the U.S. CDC. This year, Maine has also seen two human cases of West Nile virus, with one locally contracted. EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses like West Nile and Jamestown Canyon are spread through mosquito bites, not human-to-human contact. Health officials urge vigilance for symptoms, as severe cases can lead to encephalitis and meningitis.