Deadly virus spread by deer tick kills 1, hospitalizes 2, Wisconsin officials say
Details about where and how the three individuals contracted Powassan virus in the state were not shared, however the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is recommending health care providers quickly test patients with symptoms of the 'rare' disease.
'POWV is rare, but there has been an increase in the number of cases reported in recent years,' officials said in a June 24 email to health care providers in the state. 'This increase could be from more people becoming infected with POWV, improvements in testing and diagnosis, or some combination of both.'
Powassan virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick, officials said. The ticks contract the disease when they bite an infected animal, then pass it onto a human as they latch onto them.
As of June 17, seven cases of the virus have been reported nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cases were reported in Wisconsin, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
In 2024, 57 human cases were reported, the most since 2004, according to the CDC.
Infection can present asymptomatically, according to the health department, or through a 'non-specific' illness or neurological disease.
'Initial symptoms commonly include fever, headache, vomiting, and generalized weakness. The disease can progress to encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or aseptic meningitis,' officials said.
The virus can later progress into seizures, speech problems or paralysis, among other symptoms.
Deer ticks spread other diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, health officials said.
Experts with AccuWeather recommend long sleeves in areas where there may be ticks, such as woods or tall grass, and to check your body after spending time outdoors.
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