{"id":3316,"date":"2026-06-30T08:37:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T08:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=3316"},"modified":"2026-06-30T08:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T08:37:35","slug":"rare-tick-borne-virus-turns-deadly-fast-as-us-cases-reach-record-high-experts-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=3316","title":{"rendered":"Rare tick-borne virus turns deadly fast as US cases reach record high, experts warn"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A rare and potentially fatal\u00a0tick-borne illness\u00a0currently spreading across the United States can be traced back to a 1958 case involving a young boy on a farm.<\/p>\n

Read more 1984 photo of worker kissing Statue of Liberty in daring display resurfaces ahead of America 250 celebrations<\/a><\/p>\n

The disease, known as Powassan virus, was named for the Ontario town near where it was first discovered.<\/p>\n

At the time of his death, Lincoln Byers, a 4-year-old living in Canada, had a condition that medical professionals could not explain, the Boston Globe reported.<\/p>\n

Years later, researchers discovered a tick harboring the same virus on a dead squirrel, finally providing an answer to the tragedy, but foreshadowing a growing public health challenge.<\/p>\n

While once considered an\u00a0obscure medical anomaly, Powassan virus cases have reached historic highs in the U.S., data show.<\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 76 Americans were diagnosed with\u00a0the virus\u00a0in 2025, the highest annual total on record. Previously, the U.S. averaged just seven to eight diagnoses each year.<\/p>\n

The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected woodchuck tick or deer tick. Like other\u00a0tick-borne illnesses, Powassan is most prevalent from late spring through mid-fall, when tick populations peak and outdoor activity increases.<\/p>\n

Public health experts warn that the virus\u2019s transmission speed makes it uniquely dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most dangerous aspects is its rapid transmission,\u201d Dr. Jorge P. Parada, a medical advisor at the National Pest Management Association in Chicago, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

\u201cPowassan can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after the infected tick bites, while Lyme disease usually requires a 36- to 48-hour attachment time for transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Ukrainian millionaire, partner and son injured in Monaco after maniac drops makeshift bomb<\/a><\/p>\n

Parada noted that while Powassan remains rare compared to Lyme disease, it poses\u00a0clinical concern.<\/p>\n

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News, confirmed that the virus transmits significantly faster than Lyme disease. He noted that Powassan carries an incubation period of one to four weeks before symptoms manifest.<\/p>\n

Initial symptoms include fever,\u00a0headache, vomiting and weakness, though some infected individuals remain asymptomatic, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n

The virus can progress to severe neurological complications, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord membranes).<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

In severe cases, patients may experience confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking and seizures, per the CDC.<\/p>\n

Approximately 10% of Powassan cases involving severe\u00a0neurological disease\u00a0are fatal, and many survivors experience long-term neurological issues.<\/p>\n

There are currently no specific medications or vaccines to treat or prevent Powassan virus; clinical care is limited to supportive therapy, such as intravenous fluids and respiratory support.<\/p>\n

While anyone can develop severe illness, those at the highest risk include children,\u00a0older adults\u00a0and immunocompromised individuals, experts caution.<\/p>\n

Read more Long Island Expressway crash leaves two people dead and 10 injured<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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