The first deadly case of the Powassan virus has been confirmed in Maryland, state health officials said. The virus is spread by a tick bite.
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BALTIMORE, MD — The first death in Maryland from the Powassan virus — spread by a tick bite — has been confirmed, state health officials said Friday.
The Maryland Department of Health confirmed the presence of the Powassan virus on Sept. 22, with subsequent follow-ups reinforcing that result. The victim was exposed to the virus while traveling.
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“We are very saddened to report the first death due to the Powassan virus in our state,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman in a news release. “Powassan is very rare, and this is the first-ever case recorded in Maryland. The individual contracted the virus in Canada and returned to Maryland afterward. We do not believe that Powassan poses any threat of local transmission in Maryland. As always, we urge everyone to practice good habits when in areas that could have ticks or avoid those areas altogether.”
According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is rare and is not transmitted from person to person, except in rare instances by blood transfusion. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Powassan virus disease. Most cases in the United States occur in the northeast and Great Lakes regions from late spring through mid-fall when ticks are most active.
As of Oct. 3, there had been 28 cases of the Powassan virus in nine states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, vomiting and general weakness, usually progressing to meningoencephalitis, a very serious neurological condition resembling both meningitis and encephalitis with symptoms that include mental confusion, seizures, paralysis and palsies. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
U.S. cases of Powassan virus diseases have been reported primarily in Northeast and Great Lakes states.
The Maryland Department of Health will launch a “Maryland, Get Ticked Off!” campaign next week to remind residents to protect against tick bites. The campaign includes a Tickborne Disease Occupational Toolkit containing health information for people whose job sites and work activities could put them at risk for tick bites.
CDC research found the incidence of all tick-borne diseases had more than doubled from 2004-2016, and that ticks are responsible for 95 percent of all locally acquired vector-borne illnesses, with Lyme disease accounting for 80 percent of those cases.
Many of the insects emerging with spring temperatures play important roles in ecosystems and are harmless to people and animals. Scientists say a healthy tick population is an indicator of an ecosystem’s overall health and stability, and they are an important food source for many reptiles, birds and amphibians.
More About Tick-Borne Illnesses
Lyme disease: If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the state of infection, including fever, rash, facial paralysis and arthritis. Other symptoms, in absence of a rash, include chills, headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes.
All but a handful of states reported at least one case of Lyme disease in 2020, according to the latest CDC data. The agency noted, though, that data may not accurately reflect disease trends because many of the high-incidence states have modified their surveillance practices.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Most people who get sick with this illness experience a fever, headache and rash. If not treated with the right antibiotics early, it can be fatal. Before tetracycline antibiotics were available, Rocky Mountain spotted fever fatality rates ranged from 20 percent to 80 percent, according to the CDC.
Cases are found throughout the continental United States, but those in five states — Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — account for more than 50 percent of cases. The disease is transmitted by a variety of ticks, depending on the region.
Ehrlichiosis: There are three strains of this illness, one of them potentially deadly. Fatal cases of ehrlichiosis are highest among children around 10 and adults around 70, according to the CDC.
It’s most reported in the Southeast and South Central United States, but three states — Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas — account for 35 percent of all cases.
Here are more tick-borne illnesses:
More information on preventing tick bites, removing ticks, checking pets for ticks and stopping ticks from getting into your yard is available from the CDC.
