United States: The health authorities of the United States have sounded alarm after an increase in the rare tick-borne disease was reported in a state of the nation. The concerns and worries of health experts have been raised after the authorities of the town of Sharon confirmed a case of the potentially deadly Powassan virus.
It is to be noted that the authorities have outlined that it is for the very first time that Powassan virus has been found in Sharon. Following this, the general public has asked to take care of all the possible precautions against the ticks and their spread. However, the health authorities have not mentioned any information related to the infected person.
According to the official data, Massachusetts has reported around two (2) cases of the virus as of now in 2024. The experts have suggested that the Powassan virus can be fatal. Reportedly, last year, a Maine man developed the disease in his 50s and died after experiencing neurological symptoms.
What is the Powassan virus and what are its common symptoms?
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, it is asserted that Powassan instigates a rare, albeit frequently severe malady.” Over the course of the preceding decade, sixteen (16) cases have been identified within the confines of the state.
The majority of individuals exposed to Powassan shall remain unscathed; however, a fraction may succumb to severe afflictions, such as meningitis or encephalitis, characterized by cerebral inflammation.
Symptoms of the disease encompass fever, cephalalgia, emesis, debility, diminished coordination, cognitive disarray, speech impediments, and convulsions, as expounded by DPH. Onset typically transpires within the span of one to four weeks post an arachnid bite.
“Roughly 10% of individuals afflicted with this acute strain of the ailment shall perish, and survivors may grapple with protracted health ramifications,” posits the agency.
Yet, those necessitating hospitalization due to the gravity of their symptoms are confronted with graver peril.
“Individuals contracting the ailment and necessitating hospital intervention face an alarming mortality rate of nearly 40%,” discloses Dr. Goudarz Molaei, overseer of Tick-Borne Afflictions at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. “Those who endure the viral onslaught may endure enduring neurologic sequelae.”
Regrettably, no panacea or targeted remedy exists for Powassan.
Strategies for safeguarding against Powassan
Powassan is disseminated by black-legged ticks, commonly referred to as deer ticks. These arachnids are also culpable for transmitting more prevalent pathogens such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. It is prognosticated that 2024 shall witness a surge in tick population vis-à-vis 2023, attributable to the mild winter conditions.
Of particular concern, Powassan boasts a higher transmissibility quotient relative to Lyme disease. Whereas Lyme disease necessitates 24 to 36 hours of tick attachment for transmission, Powassan requires a mere 15 to 30 minutes, as per Molaei.
Mitigating the risk of infection hinges upon minimizing the likelihood of tick contact.
DPH advocates for the utilization of repellents containing DEET while outdoors, adorning oneself in long, light-toned attire, and adhering to designated trails during hiking excursions. Enclosing pant legs within socks may also prove efficacious. Individuals are implored to conduct thorough tick inspections and bathe following potential exposure.