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Another person in Maine sickened by the rare Powassan virus
WMTW • • health
Key Points:
- An adult in Lincoln County, Maine, tested positive for the rare and potentially deadly Powassan virus last week, marking the third case in the state this year.
- A wild bird in Cumberland County tested positive for West Nile virus, the first confirmed case of West Nile in Maine this year.
- Powassan virus, transmitted by ticks, affects the brain and can spread within 15 minutes of a tick bite; it is more rapidly transmitted than Lyme disease.
- Powassan virus is rare but serious, with about 10% of severe cases resulting in death and many survivors experiencing long-term neurological symptoms.
- Maine has seen a rise in Powassan cases, with a record seven cases in 2023 and at least four deaths since 2015, including one death so far in 2024.
