How long does it take to get Powassan virus from a tick?

Powassan virus is a rare tick-borne illness. It is primarily spread by deer ticks.

As you might know, it takes 24 to 48 hours of attachment for a deer tick to pass Lyme infection. If an engorged deer tick is found on a person or pet, there is a chance that the tick has been attached long enough to spread Lyme bacteria. But is the same true for the much rarer Powassan virus?

How long does it take to contract Powassan virus?

How long does a tick have to be attached to pass Powassan virus?

Experts believe that Powassan virus can be contracted in only 15 minutes. In a People Magazine article dated July 30, 2022, a family speaks about their experience with this potentially fatal disease. A three-year-old in Pennsylvania fell gravely ill after his mother found a tick on him. His mother explained the tick was, “non-embedded or engorged,” and so they went on about their day without giving much thought to the tick.

Deer ticks can pass Powassan in only 15 minutes.

This family has prior experience with tick bites, as the boy’s older sister contracted Lyme disease a few years ago. The vigilant mother noted that a small red bump had formed on his skin a few days after finding the tick, but again, this was not particular cause for concern.

After two weeks passed, the boy’s daycare provider began to notice lethargy and said that he had also complained of a headache. Within a few days, a temperature of 104 spurred his parents to take him to the hospital. Due to an elevated white blood cell count, he was tested for viral and bacterial meningitis – both being ruled out. On day five of the boy’s hospital stay, an MRI confirmed a meningoencephalitis diagnosis. Within 15 hours of an IV of immunoglobulin, he woke up and began talking to his family. After spending nearly two weeks in the hospital, he was released. A few days later, doctors confirmed the Powassan virus diagnosis. Though this disease is most unfortunate, his case is one of fortune. That is because approximately 10% of sufferers with sever infection do not survive Powassan. Though his parents are hopeful about the future, there are aspects of the boy’s recovery that are yet unknown. A Facebook group about the family’s experience has been created but to raise awareness about the disease.

Hingham tick control will help you avoid ticks.

Dave Macchia, tick control enthusiast — Dave Macchia, Central Mass tick control enthusiast

Encountering ticks can be likened to a game of Russian roulette. Why take the chance when you don’t have to? I recommend that families enlist the help of professional tick control providers to help keep ticks away from their homes. Even still, there is no tick treatment that is 100% effective. Therefore, I also recommend vigilance in performing tick checks after spending time outdoors. This is especially important for campers, hikers, gardeners, and children, who have been playing outdoors. Pets are family too – they must be checked for ticks frequently!

Deer Tick Virus is Invading the Northeast

Could we have a Powassan virus invasion in Central Mass again in 2022?

Deer tick virus is rare, but in terms of where it is more likely to rear its ugly head…Central Mass could be a target once more in 2022. Officials in Pennsylvania are warning residents to protect themselves this year, as the virus has been found in 16 counties across the state. There have only been about 100 confirmed cases of Powassan virus in the U.S. in the last decade. That doesn’t sound too bad, huh?

16 of those 100 Powassan virus cases were in Massachusetts.

Even though deer tick virus is generally rare, if you live in the Northeastern or Upper Midwestern United States, you are more likely to encounter the illness. And since there is no vaccine and no cure, protection is 100% about tick bite prevention. What we know now, is that the disease is in our region, just a couple hundred miles away. Deer tick virus could be here already, lying in wait with the nasty ticks that transmit it.

How dangerous is Powassan? It’s potentially fatal. What’s more, unlike Lyme infection, which takes 24 to 48 hours of attachment, deer tick virus can be transmitted from a tick to a human in only 15 minutes! And Central Mass residents could be a bit complacent about deer tick sightings. After all, they seem to be everywhere. But if you are thinking, “Oh, it’s just another tick,” think again. It could be a deadly tick that has attached itself to you or your family member.

Visit the CDC’s website for information about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Powassan virus here.

Decrease your risk of infection with Wellesley tick control.

When I say that professional tick control is more important than ever with each new spring, I mean it. That is because whether Powassan has been diagnosed in our area or not, tick populations are expanding. Warmer winters, earlier springs, and deforestation all contribute to the increase in ticks throughout Central Mass. The more ticks we have, the better the chance that one of our family members encounters a tick-borne illness. Enlist the assistance of a trusted Wellesley tick control company, who can help keep your family protected from the threat of tick bites all year long. Tick yard spray is super important this time of year with the emergence of ticks from their overwintering domain. If you wonder when you should begin your Wellesley tick protection spray regimen, a great rule of thumb is April through the end of October.

Is Lyme disease the worst illness spread by the deer tick?

It really depends on your definition of “worst.”

When it comes to sheer numbers, Lyme disease is by far the worst tick-borne illness. At the time of this writing, the CDC estimates that annual cases of Lyme infection in the United States lies somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000. If you have ever become infected with Lyme disease, you might say it’s the worst. If you or someone you know suffers from Chronic Lyme infection, you might assuredly believe it’s the worst. But there is another tick-born illness, which is passed by the deer tick, that is rearing its ugly head.

Is Lyme disease the worst tick-borne illness?

Powassan virus is worse in other ways.

Powassan virus disease is certainly not the worst in case numbers. Over the last decade, the United States has had about 100 confirmed cases of this tick-borne illness. However, if you or someone you know has been infected with Powassan virus, you would call it the worst. What makes it so?

Powassan symptoms are sporadic.

Symptoms of Powassan virus range from no symptoms at all to severe neurological affliction. The illness can be perplexing to medical professionals. Many patients are admitted to the hospital, where a battery of tests are run, which finally result in a confirmed case of Powassan virus disease. Symptoms can occur one week after a tick bite, or a month later. Symptoms can be vomiting, fever, loss of coordination, seizures, and even death.

No treatment, no vaccine.

Like Lyme disease, there is currently no vaccine for Powassan virus. And while Lyme disease can be treated and cured if diagnosed early, there is no treatment for Powassan. Doctors must intervene with treatment of symptoms, which can include IV fluids and respiratory support.

Powassan virus can be fatal.

Approximately 10-15% of severe cases of Powassan virus disease result in death. What’s more, those, who survive infection, are often left with lingering effects. One Barnstable Mass resident says he feels lucky to be alive after his run-in with this rare tick-borne illness.

What should you do to reduce your risk of exposure to tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme or Powassan?

Steps can be taken to reduce tick bite risks. These include very simple habits, like keeping your lawn cut short, and clearing brush, leaves, and yard waste from your property. If you are going out in nature, wear sleeves and pants to create a barrier between yourself and ticks. It is also recommended that you wear a repellent containing 20% DEET.

Central Mass tick control The CDC also recommends augmenting your tick bite protection by treating your yard for ticks. Professional tick control companies offer solutions for tick elimination. Hiring professionals to treat your property means that you will be optimally protected. This is because tick control technicians are trained to seek out high-risk areas throughout your property to ensure that they are areas of focus for treatment. Reputable companies not only offer yard sprays on a rotating schedule from spring through fall, but extend their offering with tick control tubes. Tick tubes are placed in the fall and work to control the emerging tick population in the spring.

Tag: Powassan virus