Health officers in Maine have reported the primary recognized Powassan virus case and dying this yr.
The Maine Heart for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed the deadly case in a Sagadahoc County resident.
The state’s Division of Health and Human Providers mentioned Wednesday that the deceased grownup had developed neurologic signs.
They died within the hospital after turning into contaminated.
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This undated photograph supplied by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reveals a blacklegged tick, which is also referred to as a deer tick. Ticks will probably be extra lively than standard early in spring 2023, and meaning Lyme illness and different tick-borne infections may unfold earlier and in better 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 truth 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 every year since 2015.
In that very same timeframe, Maine has recognized 15 circumstances, together with 4 final yr.
Two individuals who contracted the sickness died, making this the third recorded Powassan dying within the state since 2015.
Notably, folks contract the virus by means of the chew of an contaminated deer tick or woodchuck tick.
Whereas ticks could be lively at any time when 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 USA, with about 25 circumstances reported every year since 2015. (iStock)
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For many 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 could embody fever, headache, vomiting, weak point, confusion, seizures or reminiscence loss, and a few folks could expertise critical neurologic issues, like mind or spinal cord 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 at present lively, so anybody spending time open air 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 may also help you keep tick-free.
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Ensure to take precautions in areas the place ticks could dwell, 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 out of doors exercise.
Officers additionally advocate folks take away their clothes once 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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