Maine
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.”
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.
“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.
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.
Maine
Maine Water, Coastal Mountains Land Trust protect more watershed land
Maine Water and the Coastal Mountains Land Trust celebrated a decade of working together Sept. 18 by announcing an agreement to add another 29 acres on Spruce Mountain to the more than 1,500 acres of open space on Maine’s Midcoast that the two organizations have already protected.
Maine Water also presented the land trust with a $10,000 donation to fund the group’s continued conservation work.
“One of our top priorities, by necessity, is the high quality of the drinking water that we deliver to Maine families,” said Mark Vannoy, President of Maine Water, in a Sept. 25 news release. “Through our partnership with the CMLT we secured this water supply in perpetuity, for those who follow us. We’ve found the land trust to be an ideal partner, not only for the purpose of protecting the area’s drinking water, but also for making the land available for light recreation so that families can get out and enjoy our incredible natural resources.”
At a ceremony held Sept. 18 at the Ragged Mountain Thorndike Brook Trailhead, Coastal Mountains Land Trust Executive Director Ian Stewart noted Maine Water’s decision about a decade ago to partner on conservation initiatives, rather than sell land the company had been acquiring since the late 1800s.
“There was an ethic on both sides of the conversation to say this is an opportunity to do something different than just sell this land off,” Steward said. “We live in an extraordinarily beautiful place, and there’s an opportunity still here to see that some of the most special places in our community are set aside.”
During the ceremony, Vannoy reminisced about how he reluctantly entertained his son’s suggestion a couple of years ago that the two of them take a January hike to the top of Ragged Mountain to watch the sunrise. Temperatures were in the single digits.
“It was well worth the effort,” Vannoy said. “It is just great to see the beauty of this place, and we’ve preserved that for generations to come.”
The partnership between Maine Water and the Coastal Mountains Land Trust permanently protected Mirror Lake and Grassy Pond, important sources of drinking water for six coastal communities. Maine Water employees also regularly donate time and effort to maintain trails on the properties. On Friday, more than 20 volunteers associated with the company spent the morning working with land trust staff maintaining trails around Ragged Mountain.
Maine
Central Maine Power sends 20 crews from Maine to aid in Hurricane Helene recovery
PORTLAND (WGME) – Central Maine Power is one of many power companies sending assistance south for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
20 crews, a total of 50 people, gathered at the Kennebunk Service Plaza this morning before heading south to Virginia.
CMP spokesman Jon Breed says the request for help came in Friday night.
“Last night, we went to bed thinking they were going to Kentucky and West Virginia, and this morning it was Virginia, it just kind of shows the dynamic situation that is unfolding down there as millions are without power, but they are kind of feeding into a large resource group that is working to get the lights back on,” said Breed.
CMP’s parent company, Avangrid, sent 53 other crews from New York and Connecticut, as well.
Maine
Maine murder suspect led officers on high-speed chase in Mass., DA says
A Bangor man was held without bail Friday after the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said he was involved in a high-speed chase following the murder of a 39-year-old woman in Maine.
The Bangor Maine Police Department found Virginia Cookson, 39, of Bangor, dead in her residence on Sept. 25, according to a statement from the district attorney.
Two days later, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, Maine ruled the death to be a homicide, which led to a warrant issued for Richard Keith Thorpe, 42 of Bangor.
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