Dangerous Tick-Borne Disease Spreads To NY, CDC Warns

A rare, potentially deadly tick-borne disease has infected people in New Jersey. And health officials say it could be worse than Lyme disease. The same tick that carries Lyme disease has caused Powassan, otherwise known as POW. It is a virus infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance.

In some cases, it can be deadly, according to health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it did kill a patient in Minnesota. Brain swelling from the virus is was what caused her death, officials say.

New York has had 16 cases, the second highest amount in the country. Other states that have reported cases are Minnesota, 20; Wisconsin, 15; Massachusetts, 8; New Jersey, 5; Maine, 2; New Hampshire, 1; Pennsylvania, 1; and Virginia 1.

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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.

These cases occur primarily in the late spring, early summer and mid-fall when ticks are most active. The CDC did not identify specific locations in New York for the disease.

The recent mild winter, together with an unusually large population of mice last year, have experts thinking there will be increased numbers of ticks in the Hudson Valley and the diseases they carry this season. A single mouse can carry up to 100 infected ticks on its tiny ears and face.

“Unfortunately, it is not only Lyme disease we are concerned about,” says interim Putnam County Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD. “There are other illnesses carried by ticks and we are seeing increases in all of them. Our No. 1 line of defense has been, and still is, preventing tick bites in the first place.”

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.

Read more about the disease from the CDC by clicking here.

Written by Tom Davis (Patch Staff), with additional reporting by Michael Woyton/Patch Staff.

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