Mainer dies following rare virus spread by infected tick bite, officials confirm

RELEASED. OFFICIALS SAY THE SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY AND BEING TREATED IN A HOSPITAL. TODAY MAINE CDC CONFIRMING THAT A MAINE RESIDENT FROM WALDO COUN HAS DIED AS A RESULT OF A RARE TICK BORN ILLNESS - THE POWASSAN VIR. US W-M-T-W NEWS 8'S NORAH HOGAN SPOKE WITH A TICK DISEASE EXPERT. SHE JOINS US IN STUDIO TO TELL US WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR. NORAH? ALLISON, STEV E, POWASSAN IS A VERY RARE TI CK BORN ILLNESS. ONLY 14 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN MAINE SINCE 2010. BUT THREE OF THOSE CAS ES HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH, SO IT DOES POSE A VERY SERIS OU RISK. THE DISEASE CAN BE PASSSED TO HUMANS FROM INFECTED TICKS. SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE VOMMITING, SEIZURES, FEVER, MEMORY LOSS, CONFUSION OR WORSE - <GRIFFIN DILL/UNIVERSITY OF MAINE TICK LA B> "MANY OF THE CAS WESE DO HAVE ALSO LEAD TO LONG TE RM NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS SO IT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL LY SERIOUS TICK BORN ILLNESS, FORTUNATELY IT IS ALSO AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ILLNESS." THIS DISEASE IS RARE BUT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PROTECT YOURSELF. ASITH W LYME DIEASE ANYOR OTHER TICK BORN ILLNESS YOU CAN LOWER YOUR RISK BY COVERG IN UP AND WEARING TICK REPELLANT WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE AND DOING A TICK CHECK AND SHOWER

A Waldo County resident has died after being infected by a rare virus spread by infected ticks, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed.Officials say the adult-aged person developed neurological symptoms and died while in the hospital. They believe the person became infected with the Powassan virus while in Maine.Powassan virus is a rare illness spread by an infected woodchuck tick or deer tick bite.Officials consider the virus rare, with only about 25 cases reported each year since 2015. In Maine, there have been 14 cases reported since 2010. “Ticks are active and looking for a host to bite right now,” director of the Maine CDC Nirav D. Shah said. “I urge Maine people and visitors to take steps that prevent tick bites.”Symptoms of the virus usually start one week to one month after the tick bite. Symptoms may include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or memory loss.Some people may experience serious neurologic problems, such as brain or spinal cord inflammation which could result in death. However, the CDC says many people who are infected do not get sick. No specific treatment is available for the virus, but you are asked to contact your health provider if you develop symptoms. For more information about tick-borne diseases, click here.

WALDO COUNTY, Maine —

A Waldo County resident has died after being infected by a rare virus spread by infected ticks, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed.

Officials say the adult-aged person developed neurological symptoms and died while in the hospital. They believe the person became infected with the Powassan virus while in Maine.

Powassan virus is a rare illness spread by an infected woodchuck tick or deer tick bite.

Officials consider the virus rare, with only about 25 cases reported each year since 2015. In Maine, there have been 14 cases reported since 2010.

“Ticks are active and looking for a host to bite right now,” director of the Maine CDC Nirav D. Shah said. “I urge Maine people and visitors to take steps that prevent tick bites.”

Symptoms of the virus usually start one week to one month after the tick bite. Symptoms may include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or memory loss.

Some people may experience serious neurologic problems, such as brain or spinal cord inflammation which could result in death.

However, the CDC says many people who are infected do not get sick. No specific treatment is available for the virus, but you are asked to contact your health provider if you develop symptoms.

For more information about tick-borne diseases, click here.

Mainer dies following rare virus spread by infected tick bite, officials confirm

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