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Another case of the rare Powassan virus confirmed in Maine
WMTW • • health
Key Points:
- An adult in Penobscot County, Maine, tested positive for the rare and potentially deadly Powassan virus last week, marking the fourth case in Maine this year and the second in Penobscot County.
- Powassan virus, transmitted by ticks, affects the brain and can spread to people within 15 minutes of a tick bite; it has a fatality rate of about 10% in severe cases, with many survivors experiencing long-term neurological symptoms.
- Maine has also reported two cases of West Nile virus in birds and three mosquito pools positive for Jamestown Canyon virus in 2024, with Powassan being the only tick-borne arbovirus endemic to the state.
- Since 2015, Maine has recorded at least four deaths from Powassan virus, including one death in 2024; the virus remains rare nationally, with 20 to 50 cases reported annually across the U.S. from 2018 to 2023.
- The story of Henry Grover from Brewer highlights the virus's severity, as he died in 2022 after a rapid decline from Powassan virus infection, which was only diagnosed posthumously.
