INJURIES OR WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THAT CRASH. FOR YOUR HEALTH NOW, THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IDENTIFYING THE FIRST HUMAN CASE OF POWASSAN VIRUS DISEASE IN OUR COUNTY. A TICK BORNE DISEASE SPREAD TO PEOPLE THROUGH A BITE FROM AN INFECTED TICK. THE SAME TICK THAT CAN TRANSMIT THE BACTERIA THAT CAUSES LYME DISEASE. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER MARCIE CIPRIANI JOINS US LIVE NOW WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. MARCY. YEAH. KRISTEN. EXPERTS SAY PROTECTION IS REALLY KEY SINCE THERE IS NO VACCINE AND NO TREATMENT FOR THIS VIRUS. AND THEY SAY IN SOME CASES IT CAN BE DEADLY. WE WALK OUT HERE TO STAY HEALTHY ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT SCHENLEY PARK. WE’RE HERE ALL THE TIME, SURROUNDED BY TREES. WE’RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE WOODS OVER THERE. MANY TELL ME THEY THINK ABOUT TICKS AND PREVENTION, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH A NEW WARNING FROM ALLEGHENY COUNTY THAT THE FIRST PERSON EVER IN THE COUNTY, A CHILD TESTED POSITIVE FOR POWASSAN DISEASE FROM A TICK IN MCCANDLESS. OFFICIALS SAY POWASSAN IS A VIRUS THAT COMES FROM THE SAME TICK THAT CAUSES LYME DISEASE, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFERENT. POISON IS MORE AGGRESSIVE. NICK BALDAUF IS THE VECTOR CONTROL SPECIALIST FOR THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE SAYS WHILE POWASSAN IS MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN LYME, IT IS ALSO MORE RARE. JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL INFECTION RATE WAS 0.2% FOR POWASSAN. FOR LYME LAST YEAR IT WAS 30%. BUT WITH THE FIRST HUMAN CASE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. DOCTORS ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION. THEY SAY SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE VOMITING AND HIGH FEVER, BUT THEY WILL LIKELY BE DELAYED, SO SYMPTOMS DON’T USUALLY DEVELOP UNTIL 8 TO 34 DAYS AFTER BEING BITTEN BY THE TICK. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK DOCTOR BRIAN LAMB SAYS IF SYMPTOMS DON’T GO AWAY OR GET WORSE, CALL YOUR DOCTOR. BUT HE AND BALDAUF SAY SINCE THERE IS NO VACCINE AND NO TREATMENT, THE BEST OPTION IS PREVENTION. PERMETHRIN IS A GREAT PRODUCT, SO IF YOU TREAT YOUR SHOES AND CLOTHING ALONE WITH PERMETHRIN, YOU SHOULDN’T PUT IT ON YOUR SKIN. BUT IF YOU TREAT YOUR SHOES AND CLOTHING ALONE, IT’S SAFE TO HANDLE. ONCE IT’S DRY. BUT THAT DRASTICALLY REDUCES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A TICK ON YOU OR A TICK BORNE DISEASE. THAT, AS YOU JUST HEARD THOUGH, IS JUST FOR CLOTHING. SO EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD USE A BUG SPRAY WITH DEET ON YOUR SKIN FOR ADDED PROTECTION.
Allegheny County Health Department reports first human case of Powassan virus disease
The Allegheny County Health Department says the first human case of Powassan virus disease in the county has been detected.A child who lives in northern Allegheny County tested positive and is recovering at home after experiencing fever and other symptoms that led to hospitalization, the health department said Tuesday.The tick-borne disease is spread to people via a bite from an infected black-legged tick, the same tick that can cause Lyme disease.”Powassan is viral, Lyme disease is bacteria, so Powassen tends to be a little more aggressive,” said Nick Baldauf, Allegheny County Health Department’s Vector Control Specialist.Baldauf said he and officials with the Department of Environmental Protection have enhanced tick surveillance in McCandless, where the child came in to contact with the tick, to determine if Powassan is prevalent in the area.To protect yourself from a tick bite, the ACHD says you should avoid wooded and brushy areas, use repellents, shower after being outdoors and check for ticks. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible, and pay attention for the next several days to weeks.”Symptoms don’t usually develop until 8 to 34 days after being bitten by the tick,” said Allegheny Health Network Dr. Brian Lamb.This is the first case of Powassan virus disease reported in Pennsylvania this year.
The Allegheny County Health Department says the first human case of Powassan virus disease in the county has been detected.
A child who lives in northern Allegheny County tested positive and is recovering at home after experiencing fever and other symptoms that led to hospitalization, the health department said Tuesday.
The tick-borne disease is spread to people via a bite from an infected black-legged tick, the same tick that can cause Lyme disease.
“Powassan is viral, Lyme disease is bacteria, so Powassen tends to be a little more aggressive,” said Nick Baldauf, Allegheny County Health Department’s Vector Control Specialist.
Baldauf said he and officials with the Department of Environmental Protection have enhanced tick surveillance in McCandless, where the child came in to contact with the tick, to determine if Powassan is prevalent in the area.
To protect yourself from a tick bite, the ACHD says you should avoid wooded and brushy areas, use repellents, shower after being outdoors and check for ticks. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible, and pay attention for the next several days to weeks.
“Symptoms don’t usually develop until 8 to 34 days after being bitten by the tick,” said Allegheny Health Network Dr. Brian Lamb.
This is the first case of Powassan virus disease reported in Pennsylvania this year.
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