Dangerous Tick-Borne Disease Spreads In NJ As Infected Man Dies

A rare, potentially deadly tick-borne disease has spread in New Jerey, health officials announced this week, and the number has tripled in just two two years. And health officials say it could be worse than Lyme disease.

Indeed, two cases of Powassan, otherwise known as POW, were confirmed in New Jersey this week. One man has died while another is recovering at home, according to Donna Leusner, spokesperson with the state Department of Health.

Including these two cases, New Jersey has had 10 reported since 2013. The department is aware of one other patient with Powassan who died in 2013, from Warren County, and the two most recent cases are from Sussex County.

The same tick that carries Lyme disease can cause Powassan. It is a virus infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance.

Dianne Rude posted on Facebook that she has received confirmation that her father, Armand Desormeaux, 80, of Hampton, was one of those confirmed Powassan cases in Sussex County. Desormeaux passed away on May 16 at Newton Medical Center, she said.

Rude said her father suffered from several medical issues over the years, but he was active until early last month. He developed a fever on May 6, just weeks after he was bitten by a tick, and began to experience tremors and was unable to verbalize.

New Jersey's 10 cases, meanwhile, are the fourth highest amount in the country, up from 3 only two years ago.

Others who have reported cases are Minnesota, 32; Wisconsin, 22; New York, 16; Massachusetts, 16; Maine, 6; Pennsylvania, 5; New Hampshire, 3; Rhode Island, 3; Connecticut, 1; North Carolina, 1; North Dakota, 1; and Virginia 1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it also once killed a patient in Minnesota. Brain swelling from the virus was what caused her death, officials say.

The disease has been recognized in the United States, Canada and Russia. In the United States, cases of POW virus disease have been reported primarily from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region, according to the CDC.

As with other tick-borne illnesses, there is no vaccine for the Powassan virus. Thus, health officials strongly urge residents to take preventative measures for themselves and loved ones against ticks.

These cases occur primarily in the late spring, early summer and mid-fall when ticks are most active.

Jennifer Lyons, chief of the Division of Neurological Infections and Inflammatory Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told CNN that 15 percent of patients who are infected and have symptoms are not going survive.

"Of the survivors," she told CNN, "at least 50 percent will have long-term neurological damage that is not going to resolve."

POW virus disease cases are rare, but the reported number of cases have increased in recent years. All residents of and visitors to areas where POW virus activity has been identified are at risk of infection.

People who engage in outdoor work and recreational activities in endemic areas are at increased risk of infection, according to the CDC.

Symptoms

• Many people who become infected with Powassan virus do not develop any symptoms.
• The incubation period (time from tick bite to onset of illness) ranges from about one week to one month.
• POW virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
• Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures.
• Approximately half of survivors have permanent neurological symptoms, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems.
• Approximately 10 percent of POW virus encephalitis cases are fatal.

Treatment

• There are no vaccines or medications to treat or prevent POW virus infection.
• If you think you or a family member may have POW virus disease, see your health care provider for evaluation and diagnosis.
• Persons with severe POW illnesses often need to be hospitalized. Treatment may include respiratory support, intravenous fluids and medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

While it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, be extra vigilant in warmer months — April through September — when ticks are most active.

Here are some tips to avoid infection:

• Avoid direct contact with ticks
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of trails.
• Repel ticks on skin and clothing
• Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.
• Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth.
• Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents, with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.