Maine reports first death of 2024 from rare tickborne disease
Two other people in Maine have had confirmed cases of the virus this year
A person from York County has died from Powassan virus, the first deadly case of the infection in Maine this year. There have been two other cases in Maine, one each in Kennebec and Lincoln counties, this year, but both people recovered.The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the death on Thursday. The last death from the tickborne virus in Maine was in May of last year.The CDC says cases of Powassan are rare in the United States, with only about 20 to 50 cases reported per year across the country from 2018 to 2023. Maine identified a record number of seven cases of Powassan in 2023 and has recorded 25 infections of the virus since 2014, including four deaths in the last decade. Two of those deaths are within the last 13 months.You contract Powassan through the bite of an infected deer or woodchuck tick. Deer ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing, but are most active in the spring, summer, and fall. Powassan virus may spread from ticks to people in as little as 15 minutes after a bite. Many people infected with Powassan virus do not get sick or have symptoms. For people who develop symptoms, the time from tick bite to feeling unwell can be up to a month. Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or memory loss. Some people may experience serious neurologic problems, like brain or spinal cord inflammation. About 10% of people with severe disease die. People with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
A person from York County has died from Powassan virus, the first deadly case of the infection in Maine this year. There have been two other cases in Maine, one each in Kennebec and Lincoln counties, this year, but both people recovered.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the death on Thursday. The last death from the tickborne virus in Maine was in May of last year.
The CDC says cases of Powassan are rare in the United States, with only about 20 to 50 cases reported per year across the country from 2018 to 2023. Maine identified a record number of seven cases of Powassan in 2023 and has recorded 25 infections of the virus since 2014, including four deaths in the last decade. Two of those deaths are within the last 13 months.
You contract Powassan through the bite of an infected deer or woodchuck tick. Deer ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing, but are most active in the spring, summer, and fall. Powassan virus may spread from ticks to people in as little as 15 minutes after a bite.
Many people infected with Powassan virus do not get sick or have symptoms. For people who develop symptoms, the time from tick bite to feeling unwell can be up to a month.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or memory loss. Some people may experience serious neurologic problems, like brain or spinal cord inflammation. About 10% of people with severe disease die. People with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.