Tick-transmitted Powassan virus returns to Maine in 2019



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NEW YORK, July 25, 2019 / PRNewswire / – The Powbadan virus has recently experienced its first reported incidence in Maine since 2017, notes a report published on Chwezi Traveler. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reported that the affected person had contracted the potentially fatal disease transmitted by ticks into the state and that she was currently being treated in a hospital. New Hampshire.

This is the eleventh case of Powbadan virus observed in several countries. Maine since the beginning of the 21st century. The disease was identified for the first time in 1958. Since then, an average of seven cases have been reported per year in United States. The virus is usually contracted by tick bites from deer and marmots, which can be found in areas populated with woods and shrubs.

The virus can cause encephalitis and there is no known vaccine or antiviral that can be used to treat it.

Symptoms of the Powbadan virus may appear seven to 30 days after a bite. Victims can report headaches, confusion and memory loss. Fever, weakness, vomiting and even convulsions may be other more debilitating indicators. More durable neurological difficulties are also possible. Indeed, in its most extreme form, the disease can be fatal. And unfortunately, while symptoms can be alleviated, there is no effective treatment for the disease itself.

Speaking of the dangers of the rare Powbadan virus, the director of the Maine CDC, Nirav D. Shah, warned hikers and campers to become aware of the risks presented by their environment. He also highlighted the preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the virus or other tick-borne diseases.

"Be careful in the forested and bushy areas and follow the" No Ticks 4 ME "approach to reduce tick exposure and reduce the risk of disease," Shah told Outbreak News Today.

Maine's CDC's high-profile "No Ticks 4 ME" strategy aims to tackle the problem of tick-borne diseases. As its name suggests, this initiative puts forward a four-pronged approach to counteract tick risk. The first is to wear protective clothing, while the second is to use an insect repellent approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The last two strategies recommend caution in areas where you know that ticks can be localized, clean yourself and your equipment daily, in addition to unannounced testing after leaving high-risk areas.

When it comes to getting clean, it is recommended to take a shower or bath no more than an hour or two after returning from a risky area. It is also important to perform a check from head to toe and also check the clothes, pets and equipment for any ticks that you may have with you. From the point of view of the main CDC, vigilance is essential.

The Powbadan virus has some similarities to another, well-known, tick-borne disease: Lyme disease. Lyme the disease is, however, much more prevalent in the United States, and some 30,000 cases are brought to the attention of National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year. And this may well be the tip of the iceberg – the CDC reports that about 300,000 people could actually contract the disease during a calendar year.

A revealing difference between the Powbadan virus and Lyme The disease, however, is that the latter is accompanied by a revealing rash around the infected bite. Fortunately, this can lead to faster identification of the disease. Be that as it may, tick-borne diseases are something to know and plan for anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors.

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