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What is Powassan virus? Maine resident dies of rare tick-borne illness

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What is Powassan virus? Maine resident dies of rare tick-borne illness


A Maine resident died final week from a uncommon however doubtlessly harmful tick-borne sickness, in response to well being officers.

The Maine Heart for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed on Wednesday a deadly case of Powassan virus, which is transmitted by the chunk of an contaminated tick or woodchuck tick. 

The individual, a south-central Maine resident, developed neurologic signs and died within the hospital, in response to the Maine CDC. The individual doubtless grew to become contaminated in Maine, well being officers stated. 

“Ticks are lively and in search of a bunch to chunk proper now,” stated Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, in a press launch. “I urge Maine folks and guests to take steps that forestall tick bites.”

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Instances of Powassan virus are uncommon in the US, with about 25 reported every year since 2015, in response to a Maine CDC press launch. 

Powassan virus in New York:Resident dies of uncommon tick-transmitted Powassan virus in New York – a primary for the state

Shield your self from contaminated ticks carrying life-threatening Powassan virus

Tick-borne viruses are often contracted throughout outside actions corresponding to tenting, gardening, looking or strolling within the woods, in response to Dr. Jill Weatherhead, an knowledgeable in infectious ailments at Baylor School of Drugs in Houston. The ticks often feed on small rodents, with people serving as unintended hosts. 

Powassan virus infections mostly happen within the northeast and higher Midwest, the place the ticks reside, in response to Weatherhead.

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“Every kind of tick we’ve got in the US has a geographic want for an space the place it lives,” Weatherhead stated. 

Ticks may trigger different ailments, together with Lyme illness, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain noticed fever.

The signs of Powassan virus an infection often begin every week to a month after the tick chunk. 

Individuals who get sick might have the next signs: 

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Weak point
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Reminiscence loss
  • Some might expertise critical neurologic issues, corresponding to mind or spinal wire irritation.

Mind irritation might be significantly harmful and even deadly. 

“That is what actually causes the extreme illness,” Weatherhead stated.

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The perfect safety in opposition to all tick-borne ailments is to stop tick bites. Here’s what you are able to do, in response to Weatherhead:

  • Keep away from wooded and bushy areas with tall grass.
  • Use an EPA-approved repellent on pores and skin.
  • Use permethrin on clothes for added safety.
  • Carry out tick checks every single day
  • Bathe or bathe after coming inside to clean crawling ticks off your physique. Additionally, look at clothes, gear and pets.
  • Ask a veterinarian about tick chunk prevention for cats and canine.



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Maine

NLH’s mobile mammography unit to offer walk-in screenings, no appointment needed

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NLH’s mobile mammography unit to offer walk-in screenings, no appointment needed


MILO, Maine (WABI) – There is good news for Maine woman over the age of 40, who need a mammogram.

Maine’s only mobile mammography unit will make it easier for you to get a screening in 2025.

Starting the second week of January, they’ll be offering walk-in screenings to all women – without an appointment.

Screenings will be offered on Friday, January 10 at Northern Light Primary Care, Milo, 135 Park Street, and on Tuesday, January 21, at Northern Light Primary Care, Corinth, 492 Main Street..

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Walk-in screenings will be available between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

This will be for routine screening only. In order to be eligible, officials say at least a year and one day must have passed since your last screening.

Northern Light Health says it’s first-in-Maine mobile mammogram service has screened nearly 250 women since opening in April of 2024.

Mammograms are recommended for most women beginning at age 40 because early detection allows treatment to begin sooner when cancer is easier to treat.

For more information call 207-564-4353, or visit northernlighthealth.org/mobilemammo to view the complete mobile mammography schedule.

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Rockland’s minimum wage is up for 2025

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Rockland’s minimum wage is up for 2025


Rockland’s minimum wage for some workers will increase from $15 per hour to $15.50 on Wednesday.

This increase, which applies to people employed by a company with more than 25 workers, will come at the same time as the state minimum wage increase. The state’s minimum wage will increase from $14.15 per hour to $14.65 on Wednesday.

Portland, the only other Maine city to have a minimum wage higher than the statewide one, will also be increasing its minimum wage on Wednesday, from $15 per hour to $15.50 per hour.

Rockland voters approved a law in November 2020 that increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024, with future changes based on cost-of-living increases.

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The minimum wage for workers employed by smaller companies will be the state minimum wage. For service employees, the direct minimum wage before tips will be $7.75 per hour in Rockland. If the employee’s tips do not add up to at least $15.50 per hour, the employer must make up the difference.



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Stephen King's rock radio station in Maine won't go silent after all

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Stephen King's rock radio station in Maine won't go silent after all


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Two businessmen purchased WKIT-FM from the best-selling writer after he announced that the station and two others would go silent after New Year’s Eve.

Stephen King attends the premiere of “The Life of Chuck” during the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Horror author Stephen King’s rock ‘n’ roll radio station is going to continue rocking around the clock and into the new year.

Two businessmen purchased WKIT-FM from the best-selling writer after he announced that the station and two others would go silent after New Year’s Eve. The buyers are the Maine-based duo Greg Hawes and Jeff Solari, who formed Rock Lobster Radio Group to run the station.

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“WKIT is the most legendary station in the region. It has tremendous history. We couldn’t let it die,” they said in a statement.

King is a lifelong rocker and performed with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band that featured literary icons performing for charity. He announced earlier this month that at age 77 he thought it was time to say good-bye to the radio stations.

“I’m sorry as hell to be closing down WKIT and its sister stations,” King posted earlier this month on social media. “I held off the suits for as long as I could.”

King’s foray into radio began in 1983 with the purchase of a radio station that was rebranded WZON in a nod to his book, “The Dead Zone.” That station closed before being acquired again by King in 1990.





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