Worse than Lyme: Tick-borne Powassan virus worries experts quoting : The Today

share tweet pin emailAs if Lyme disease isn't troubling enough, a more serious tick-borne disease may be emerging, experts warn. Powassan virus, which is a far rarer and more deadly pathogen than the bacterium that produces Lyme, is also transmitted by the deer tick. "And it could be that it is emerging and will explode over the next few years."Lindsey, Nicole (CDC/OID/NCEZID) / CDC Where the Powassan virus is found in the U.S. Researchers found that 7 percent of adult ticks and about 10 percent of ticks in the nymph stage carried the Powassan virus. Closed Captioning ON OFF apply | reset x Text DisplayBackgroundEnhancements fontTimes New Roman Arial Comic SansT T T T sizecolor share link Tick season looms, spurring concerns about Lyme disease, Powassan virus Play Video - 3:29 Tick season looms, spurring concerns about Lyme disease, Powassan virus Play Video - 3:29So far, 75 instances of severe disease have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.




Still, no good tick bite is a good tick bite. Health officials and media outlets are warning of a new and deadly disease borne by ticks — Powassan virus. "Severe tick-born Powassan virus has experts worried about possible spread" cautioned one NBC station. The Powassan virus can cause fevers, headaches, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss. A headline on WCBV in Boston stated "Tick bite puts Cape Cod man in coma with swollen brain."

Experts warn of increases in tick-borne Powassan virus

Prevention is the first stepThe Powassan virus was first discovered in Ontario in 1958. This potentially life-threatening virus is carried and transmitted by three types of ticks, including the deer tick that transmits Lyme disease. (CNN) Summer is nearly here, and it's bringing fears of a rare tick-borne disease called Powassan. "The best thing people can do if they're worried about Powassan or any other tick-borne virus is to prevent against all tick bites," Pastula said. "To make the matter more complicated, we are seeing greater number of ticks infected with other tick-associated pathogens, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis," Molaei said.


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