Produced By: Hitansh Gaur
US Health officials have started alerting the people about a rare virus called ‘Powassan Virus’. The death of a resident in the Sagadahoc County of Maine has become the third fatal case of the rare virus in Maine since 2015.
According to reports, every year around 25 people get infected with the rare virus and around 15% of them turn out to be fatal.
Powassan Virus is caused by the bite of infected groundhog ticks, deer ticks or squirrel ticks. The virus is most reported in the Great Lakes region of North America.
Cases with Powassan virus disease have also been reported in Canada and Russia. The virus can take from a week to a month before showing any symptoms.
Symptoms of this virus include fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness. But in some cases it can even cause serious problems. Other symptoms of this virus include seizures, loss of coordination, difficulty in speaking and confusion.
In some cases, the virus can cause serious neurological issues like – encephalitis (brain infection) and meningitis (infection of the membranes around brain and spinal cord). It can even lead to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Healthcare providers diagnose the diseases with the help of the patient’s travel history, any previous encounter with ticks which can cause the infection. In some cases, it is detected through a blood or spinal fluid test.
Powassan virus was first detected in 1958 and first in deer ticks, which bite humans and also carry Lyme disease, in the mid-1990s. Most cases have been reported during tick season from late spring through mid-fall.
The people who survive the severe phase of the Powassan virus end up having long term health issues including memory problems, recurring headaches, loss of strength and muscle mass. Almost 1 out of 10 people with severe infection die.
As of today, there is no medication to treat or prevent Powassan virus disease. Antibiotics are not effective on viruses. Painkillers, rest and fluids may offer some relief for some of the symptoms. People with severe infection often get hospitalised for help in breathing, hydration and to reduce the swelling of the brain.