Powassan virus found in Massachusetts ticks

AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – A western Massachusetts tick testing firm has discovered a number of ticks have examined optimistic for the Powassan virus, not lengthy after a Connecticut lady in her 90s died of the tick-borne virus.

Scientists at Tick Report in Amherst are busy testing round 1,000 ticks per week, taking a detailed look beneath the microscope, and extracting DNA.

“June goes to be the worst month of the 12 months for deer ticks, actually the riskiest tick chew that you could get,” mentioned Paul Killinger, schooling director at Tick Report.

Deer ticks are the first service of Lyme micro organism and the a lot rarer Powassan virus.

“This 12 months has been slightly bit humorous for Powassan, the place usually, we see two or three per 12 months. At this level, we’ve solely examined half of the ticks we usually do and we’ve already seen three optimistic outcomes,” Killinger added.

Killinger mentioned with the small pattern measurement and it being so early within the 12 months, this may not imply an entire lot, however with the current lethal case of Powassan virus in Connecticut, the lab is retaining a detailed eye on it.

“It looks like the worst outcomes to come back with people who find themselves already at-risk, both with immune circumstances or simply due to age,” Killinger defined.

Killinger instructed Western Mass Information that the 90-year-old lady’s age could have been an element. Many individuals uncovered to Powassan virus by no means really feel sick, whereas others develop into severely unwell with an in an infection of the mind, encephalitis, or meningitis.

“A variety of truly similarities to the signs of a concussion, that’s type of the cheat means that i like to think about it,” Killinger mentioned.

Signs can develop between per week and a month after a chew and embody fever, headache, vomiting, weak point, confusion, speech difficulties, and seizures.

Ten p.c of these with a extreme type of the illness will die and there’s no identified vaccine or remedy.

Fortunately, it’s uncommon, however not extraordinary within the Bay State. Up to now decade, there have been 100 instances of Powassan within the U.S. and 16 of these had been in Massachusetts.

The longer a tick feeds, the riskier it’s in transmitting a illness.

“After we see ticks which have fed for 3 or extra days, there’s not less than a 50 p.c likelihood that it got here from the hair of a kid beneath the age of 12,” Killinger famous.

Killinger mentioned to examine your child’s hair day by day, use DEET on the pores and skin, and spray your clothes and footwear with the insecticide permethrin.

“…And that’s one thing that solely goes on clothes, however the good factor about that’s you’ll be able to possibly do it as soon as a month and you’ll simply stroll out the door,” Killinger defined.

Killinger mentioned the spray is secure for pets so long as you let it dry in a single day.

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