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New Hampshire man hospitalized with rare Powassan virus after tick bite
WCVB • • health
Key Points:
- John Reagan, an outdoorsman from New Hampshire, is in critical condition at Mass General Brigham after contracting the rare Powassan virus from a tick bite.
- The Powassan virus is extremely rare, with only seven human cases reported nationwide, five of which are in Massachusetts, according to the CDC.
- Unlike Lyme disease, the Powassan virus can be transmitted by a deer tick within about 15 minutes of attachment, making it more dangerous in terms of transmission speed.
- Symptoms of Powassan virus infection may take one to four weeks to appear, starting with fever and headache, but severe neuroinvasive symptoms like confusion and seizures require immediate emergency treatment.
- John Reagan's condition deteriorated rapidly within 24 hours of hospital admission, leading to loss of speech and movement, though doctors have administered medication to help him regain consciousness.
