Connecticut reports its first case of tick-borne Powassan virus in 2022: What to know

The Connecticut Division of Public Well being introduced the state’s first reported Powassan virus an infection of the 12 months this previous Wednesday. Powassan virus is a uncommon illness unfold by the identical tick that causes Lyme illness, based on a latest press launch. 

“The identification of a Connecticut resident with Powassan virus related sickness emphasizes the necessity to take actions to forestall tick bites from now via the late fall,” stated Dr. Manisha Juthani, who’s the commissioner of the Connecticut Division of Well being.

“Utilizing insect repellent, avoiding areas the place ticks are possible, and checking rigorously for ticks after being outdoors can scale back the prospect of you or your kids being contaminated with this virus.”

Powassan virus, first found in Powassan, Ontario in 1958, is often unfold via the chunk of an contaminated black-legged or deer tick, formally generally known as Ixodes scapularis, and will be transmitted in as little as quarter-hour after a tick chunk, however it may take per week as much as one month to develop signs, per the discharge. 

That is in distinction to Lyme illness, the most typical tick-borne illness in the USA, which is attributable to a micro organism generally known as Borrelia burgdorferi and often transmitted after 36-48 hours after the chunk of often the black-legged tick, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

Human infections secondary to the Powassan virus infections have been acknowledged in the USA, Canada, and Russia, with the circumstances principally from northeastern states and the Nice Lakes area in late spring, early summer season and mid-fall when ticks are most energetic, per the CDC.

Between 2011-20, along with Connecticut, the next states have reported circumstances to the CDC: Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

NORTH CAROLINA FOOD BANK DESCRIBES ‘DEFINITE’ IMPACT OF BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE

Powassan circumstances are uncommon, with 20 reported in 2020 to the CDC, however the reported circumstances are growing, whereas often 30,00 circumstances of Lyme illness are reported to the CDC annually, however the true quantity is probably going nearer to 476,000 annually due to underreporting, per the company.

Individuals who work outside and interact in leisure actions in endemic areas for the virus are at elevated danger of the an infection.

The Connecticut affected person who contracted Powassan virus is a male affected person in his 50s who began to really feel sick through the fourth week of March after a tick chunk. He was later hospitalized with a central nervous system illness with laboratory confirmed proof by the CDC of antibodies to the virus, however is now discharged and recovering at house, based on the well being division’s launch. 

Most individuals contaminated with Powassan virus will develop gentle flu-like signs or no signs in any respect, however some will expertise extreme sickness affecting the central nervous system, which consists of the spinal twine and mind, per the well being division.

Early signs of extreme illness embrace headache, vomiting, fever and weak spot that quickly progresses to confusion, lack of coordination, problem talking, or seizures. Remedy is supportive care, which implies there is no such thing as a particular remedy directed towards the illness, however as an alternative focused to signs. 

Roughly one out of 10 circumstances of extreme sickness are deadly, with an estimated half of survivors experiencing long-term problems. 

There have been 12 circumstances of Powassan virus from 2017 to 2021 reported in Connecticut, together with three in 2021 and two out the 12 that had been deadly, the discharge stated.

PEDIATRICIAN’S PLEA TO PARENTS: DO NOT MAKE  YOUR OWN BABY FORMULA

Connecticut is a state well-known for tick-bites, with the CDC categorizing it a high-incidence area for Lyme illness, as of 2019. 

Lyme illness was first described in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975 by a researcher, Dr. William Burgdorfer, who linked puzzling signs of rheumatoid arthritis-like signs with the chunk of deer ticks, based on the Nationwide Institute of Well being (NIH). 

He found {that a} spiral formed bacterium, generally known as a spirochete, carried by the ticks brought on the situation now generally known as Lyme illness.  The spirochete was named Borrelia burgdorferi in 1982 in his honor, per the NIH.

An early symptom of Lyme illness is a trademark rash that appears like a “bulls-eye,” generally known as erythema migrans, however later can progress to joint ache and neurological points, based on Mayo Clinic.

Blacklegged ticks not solely can carry Lyme illness and Powassan virus, but additionally different tick-borne illnesses like anaplasmosis and babesiosis, so it’s attainable to get contaminated with multiple an infection on the identical time, referred to as a co-infection, per the CDC.

Some tricks to stop tick bites embrace: avoiding grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, utilizing CDC-recommended mosquito repellents, checking for ticks instantly after an outside exercise and showering inside two hours of coming indoors, per the launch.