Rhode Island health officials have confirmed a third case of the rare tick-borne Powassan virus disease in the state this year, involving a Washington County man in his 60s who experienced symptoms in late August, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.
The latest diagnosis brings the total number of confirmed cases in Rhode Island to 11 since the virus was first reported in the state in 2016, according to state health records. While cases remain rare nationally with roughly 400 reported over the past decade, health officials note that the annual infection rate has gradually increased across the Northeast, Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada.
Symptoms and Medical Risks of Powassan Virus
Initial signs of a Powassan virus infection typically include fever, headache, vomiting, and generalized weakness. However, the virus can rapidly progress to severe neurological illness requiring hospitalization, including meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and surrounding membranes.
According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, there are currently no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines available for a Powassan virus infection. Medical care for severe cases focuses primarily on supportive therapies and managing neurological complications in a hospital setting.
Tick Prevention and Removal Guidelines
With no medical cure available, prevention remains the primary defense against the virus. Rhode Island Director of Health Dr. Jerry Larkin emphasized that personal protective measures are essential for outdoor safety.
“Ticks are tiny. You may not be able to feel them or spot them right away,” Dr. Larkin explained, noting that early removal significantly reduces the risk of transmission for tick-borne pathogens like Powassan and Lyme disease.
Health officials recommend a comprehensive approach to tick safety, categorized into three steps:
- Repel: Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaves. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants, tuck pant legs into socks, and use light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily. Apply EPA-approved bug sprays containing DEET to skin or clothing.
- Check: Take a shower immediately after returning indoors from grassy or wooded locations. Perform thorough full-body tick checks using a mirror, and carefully inspect children and pets that may carry ticks into the home.
- Remove: Use a pair of clean tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull straight up without twisting. If tweezers are unavailable, use fingers protected by a tissue or rubber gloves.
Worth a look