Maine well being officers affirm first Powassan virus demise, case this yr

Well being officers in Maine have reported the first identified Powassan virus case and death this yr.

The Maine Middle for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed the deadly case in a Sagadahoc County resident.

The state’s Division of Well being and Human Companies mentioned Wednesday that the deceased grownup had developed neurologic signs.

They died within the hospital after changing into contaminated.

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This undated photograph offered by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention exhibits a blacklegged tick, which is also called a deer tick. Ticks can be extra lively than standard early in spring 2023, and meaning Lyme illness and different tick-borne infections may unfold earlier and in larger numbers than in a typical yr. Ticks can transmit a number of illnesses that sicken people, and deer ticks, which unfold Lyme, are a day-to-day reality of life within the heat months in New England and the Midwest. (CDC by way of AP, File)

Circumstances of Powassan are uncommon within the U.S., and round 25 circumstances have been reported annually since 2015.

In that very same timeframe, Maine has identified 15 cases, together with 4 final yr.

Two individuals who contracted the sickness died, making this the third recorded Powassan demise within the state since 2015.

Notably, individuals contract the virus by means of the chew of an contaminated deer tick or woodchuck tick.

Whereas ticks could be lively each time the temperature is above freezing, they’re most lively within the spring, summer season and fall seasons.

Lots of those that are contaminated don’t exhibit signs.

Circumstances of Powassan are uncommon in america, with about 25 circumstances reported annually since 2015. (iStock)

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For individuals who do develop signs, the time from the chew to feeling unwell can vary from a interval of every week to as much as a month.

Signs might embody fever, headache, vomiting, weak spot, confusion, seizures or reminiscence loss, and a few individuals might expertise critical neurologic issues, like mind or spinal twine irritation.

About 10% of these with extreme illness die.

An indication warns of ticks within the woods. (iStock)

Ticks dwell in wooded, leafy and shrubby areas, and deer ticks have been present in all 16 counties of Maine.

“They’re presently lively, so anybody spending time outside ought to take steps to restrict their publicity to ticks,” the division suggested.

Following these Tick Free ME ideas after each out of doors exercise can help you stay tick-free.          

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Be sure that to take precautions in areas the place ticks might dwell, together with sporting light-colored clothes that covers the legs and arms, tucking pants into socks, utilizing an EPA-approved repellent and checking for ticks each day and after any out of doors exercise.

Officers additionally advocate individuals take away their clothes once they return residence and put them within the dryer earlier than washing, utilizing excessive warmth for 10-Quarter-hour to kill any crawling ticks.