Potential tick-borne Powassan Virus case on Martha’s Winery – NBC Boston

Well being officers on Martha’s Winery are investigating an obvious case of Powassan virus, a uncommon however probably critical tick-borne sickness.

If confirmed, the case can be simply the second on the island within the final 20 years, and the fourth throughout Massachusetts this 12 months, the Martha’s Winery Boards of Well being stated Tuesday.

Deer ticks transmit Powassan, however not like with different sicknesses like Lyme illness, it may be contracted inside quarter-hour of a chew.

“There isn’t a particular therapy, vaccine, or treatment for Powassan virus illness,” Martha’s Winery well being officers wrote in a press launch. “Extreme circumstances may cause mind swelling (encephalitis), confusion, seizures, and long-term neurological issues.

The illness has no particular therapy or treatment, and there’s no vaccine in opposition to it, well being officers stated.

“As a result of Powassan virus could be transmitted so shortly — and since there isn’t any therapy — the best safety is to stop tick bites within the first place,” Lea Hamner, a contract epidemiologist for Dukes County, stated in an announcement shared by well being officers. “With deer ticks, Lone Star ticks, and American Canine ticks all current on Martha’s Winery, it’s potential to come across ticks throughout any month of the 12 months. Tick chew prevention must be a year-round behavior.”

The household of a Natick man who died from Powassan virus final 12 months is urging folks to take precautions in opposition to tick-borne sicknesses.

Citing knowledge from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, island well being officers famous that there have been three confirmed circumstances of Powassan in Massachusetts this 12 months. A CDC map exhibits two circumstances in Essex County and one in Bristol County. Elsewhere in New England, there have been three circumstances in Connecticut and one in New Hampshire.

There was a deadly case of Powassan final 12 months in Massachusetts, the place Kevin Boyce’s life took a tragic flip after a tick chew.

“He was within the hospital for about 24 days, I feel,” stated his sister, Erin Boyce. “They needed to med flight him from Emerson to MGH.”

In 2023, 58-year-old Robert Weymouth of Topsham, Maine, died after contracting Powassan.

“The difficulty for most individuals with a deer tick or black-legged tick is that they are so small they do not even discover them,” Tia Pinney, a senior naturalist with Mass Audubon, instructed NBC10 Boston. “The nymphs are the dimensions of a pinhead and the adults usually are not a lot greater.”

Whereas Powassan virus an infection is uncommon, analysis signifies that its incidence is rising, in accordance with Dr. Peter Krause, a senior scientist on the Yale Faculty of Public Well being. 

“There have been 60 circumstances within the final 10 years in Massachusetts, so about six a 12 months,” Krause stated. “Should you determine there are about 7 million residents in Massachusetts, it is roughly a one-in-a-million probability of getting this illness.” 

Regardless of the low odds, the potential severity makes it a major concern. Environmental scientists level to local weather change as a key issue contributing to the rise in tick populations during the last a number of many years. With extra ticks surviving hotter winters, the chance expands to extra folks. The Boyce household hopes their expertise will spur others to take the risk severely.

This tick season in New England is shaping as much as be unhealthy, and meaning youngsters enjoying exterior are extra prone to getting bitten. Two Massachusetts docs share the easy issues to do should you discover a tick in your child.

Defending Your self from Tick-Borne Diseases

Specialists suggest the next preventative measures when spending time open air, particularly in wooded or grassy areas:

• Use Repellent: Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or different EPA-approved elements efficient in opposition to ticks.
• Cowl Up: Put on light-colored clothes to make ticks simpler to identify. Tuck pants into socks and put on lengthy sleeves if potential.
• Carry out Tick Checks: After coming indoors, totally test your total physique for ticks, paying particular consideration to areas just like the scalp, behind ears, armpits, groin, and behind knees. Examine youngsters and pets as nicely.
• Bathe Quickly After: Showering inside two hours of coming indoors may also help wash off unattached ticks.
• Correct Removing: Should you discover an hooked up tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to know the tick as near the pores and skin’s floor as potential. Pull upward with regular, even strain. Keep away from twisting or jerking the tick. Clear the chew space and your fingers with rubbing alcohol or cleaning soap and water.