Maine well being officers affirm first Powassan virus loss of life, case this 12 months
Well being officers in Maine have reported the first identified Powassan virus case and death this 12 months.
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 Providers 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 picture offered by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention exhibits a blacklegged tick, which is also referred to as a deer tick. Ticks can be extra lively than ordinary early in spring 2023, and meaning Lyme illness and different tick-borne infections might unfold earlier and in higher numbers than in a typical 12 months. 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 through AP, File)
Instances 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 12 months.
Two individuals who contracted the sickness died, making this the third recorded Powassan loss of life within the state since 2015.
Notably, individuals contract the virus by way of the chunk 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.
Instances of Powassan are uncommon in the US, with about 25 circumstances reported annually since 2015. (iStock)
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For many who do develop signs, the time from the chunk to feeling unwell can vary from a interval of per week to as much as a month.
Signs could embrace fever, headache, vomiting, weak point, confusion, seizures or reminiscence loss, and a few individuals could expertise critical neurologic issues, like mind or spinal wire irritation.
About 10% of these with extreme illness die.
An indication warns of ticks within the woods. (iStock)
Ticks stay 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 outdoor ought to take steps to restrict their publicity to ticks,” the division suggested.
Following these Tick Free ME suggestions after each outside exercise can help you stay tick-free.
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Be sure that to take precautions in areas the place ticks could stay, together with carrying light-colored clothes that covers the legs and arms, tucking pants into socks, utilizing an EPA-approved repellent and checking for ticks every day and after any outside exercise.
Officers additionally advocate individuals take away their clothes after they return house and put them within the dryer earlier than washing, utilizing excessive warmth for 10-Quarter-hour to kill any crawling ticks.
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