14 August 2024
In case you aren’t already avoiding black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) due to Lyme illness, yesterday’s announcement is one more reason to be very cautious.
The Allegheny County Well being Division has introduced that the primary human case of Powassan virus illness has been detected within the space. It’s the primary time the tick-borne virus has been seen within the county, and the primary case within the state this 12 months.
— Put up Gazette: First human case of uncommon however lethal tick virus detected in Allegheny County
Powassan is a uncommon, however rising, illness that may solely be caught from a black-legged tick chew. Preliminary signs can embody fever, headache, vomiting, and weak spot however it may additionally trigger extreme sickness together with irritation of the mind (encephalitis) or the membranes across the mind and spinal wire (meningitis). This can lead to long run neurological results.
There is no such thing as a therapy for Powassan and no vaccine. All that may be finished is to attend for it to run its course and mitigate the signs.
It’s no shock that this occurred presently of 12 months. Summer time is when black-legged ticks are tiny nymphs.
Right here’s how massive they’re in comparison with an grownup. No marvel we don’t discover them sucking our blood!
There are two methods to stop Lyme illness.
#1. Verify your physique for ticks after you’ve been open air. There could also be ticks in your individual yard so test each time.
#2 Hold ticks off your garments and pores and skin. Put on lengthy pants and lengthy sleeves and spray your garments with permethrin. Some counsel utilizing DEET in your pores and skin (when you put on shorts) however I can attest that lengthy pants sprayed with permethrin is a lot better.
Keep secure open air. Keep away from ticks
For extra data, see the Put up-Gazette: First human case of uncommon however lethal tick virus detected in Allegheny County.
