Rare human case of Powassan virus serves as reminder to prevent tick exposure

The virus is rare, but case numbers have gone up in recent years.

By: Tim Studebaker

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KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – The Rhode Island Department of Health recently announced a confirmed human case of a rare tick-borne illness called Powassan Virus Disease.  This illustrates the need to take steps to protect yourself outdoors.

Doctor Thomas Mather is a Professor of Entomology at URI, and he’s the director of the University’s TickEncounter Resource Center.

Mather says, “A lot of times, people don’t realize that they need to be ready for ticks until they find themselves at a spot that all of a sudden it dawns on them.”

Although rare, Powassan case numbers have grown in recent years.

Mather says, “About maybe 8 years ago, we started to see a slight uptick in the number of Powassan cases that correlated with the fact that a second strain was identified that could be transmitted by black legged ticks, so the very same tick that can transmit Lyme Disease.”

Mather adds that although transmitted by the same tick, fewer of them carry Powassan itself, so the risk of contracting it is lower than Lyme disease.  But, unlike Lyme disease, the Department of Health says there is no treatment for Powassan, making tick prevention all that much more important.  URI’s TickEncounter Program has the information you need to keep yourself and your family safe, and they’re working on placing signs in parks and recreation centers with a QR code you can scan to get information.

Mather says, “Up on your phone will come how to be ready for ticks now, how to be ready for ticks when you get home, how to be ready for ticks if you find a tick, and what you can do before you go outside the next time to be ready for ticks.”

Friday on ABC6 News at 5:30pm, a new type of tick is spreading across Rhode Island.  While this one may not necessarily make you sick, a bite could cause another very interesting problem that you’re going to want to hear about.  Join us Friday at 5:30pm for the full story.

For more information about ticks, Lyme disease, and Powassan, visit the TickEncounter website: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/

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