All articles tagged with #powassan
A rare tick-borne virus called Powassan has reached a record number of U.S. cases (76 in 2025). The virus can be transmitted by ticks in as little as 15 minutes, can progress to severe neurological illness, and there are no vaccines or specific treatments—only supportive care. Most at risk are children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, making prevention through tick avoidance essential.
Rhode Island's Department of Health says a Providence County man in his 60s has Powassan virus disease, a rare tick-borne illness; he was hospitalized but has returned home, and officials note RI has had nine Powassan cases since 2016 while urging precautions against ticks to prevent Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
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.
Powassan virus, carried by deer ticks, poses a deadly but rare risk in north‑central Minnesota, with Gull Lake highlighted as a high‑risk area as tick season peaks in late spring and early summer. Diagnostics can be tricky and the virus can cause severe neurological damage; there is no treatment. Prevention measures—such as wearing long clothing, using effective repellents, and applying permethrin—are emphasized, especially given historical and recent case data showing variability in Powassan incidence across the region.
North-Central Minnesota is seeing rising tick activity linked to Powassan virus, a rare but potentially deadly brain infection with no specific treatment. The Gull Lake region has longstanding tick-borne risk, and health officials note Powassan is present in a small percentage of deer ticks, with diagnostics often challenging. Minnesota’s cases have fluctuated, peaking in 2024, and a 2023 case near Gull Lake resulted in death, underscoring the seriousness. Preventive measures are emphasized: wear long clothing, use EPA-registered repellents (including permethrin-treated gear), and thoroughly check for ticks (including tiny nymphs) after outdoor activities, especially from late May to mid-July. Families like the Johannsens are raising awareness and taking steps to protect their property and neighbors.)
A New Hampshire man, 66, is hospitalized in Boston after contracting Powassan virus from a tick bite, leaving him nonverbal as doctors treat potential brain inflammation. Powassan is rarer than Lyme but can be severe, with no cure or vaccine; treatment is supportive, and some cases require hospitalization. Ticks can transmit the virus in as little as 15 minutes, and prevention—using repellent, wearing protective clothing, and checking for ticks—is crucial as cases rise with climate-related tick expansion.
A doctor in Rhode Island is warning about the dangers of Powassan, a rare tick-borne disease, after a woman in the state died from the illness. The Rhode Island Department of Health has reported an increase in Powassan cases in recent years.