A Quick-Moving and Potentially Fatal Virus from a Tick Has Been Found in the U.S. in the Northeast and Great Lakes area

A quick-moving and potentially fatal virus has been found in the U.S. in the Northeast and Great Lakes area.

Carried and transferred to people and pets by ticks, the Powassan virus can infect the central nervous system, causing similar symptoms to Lyme disease, but more severe and without any cure.

Once bitten by an infected tick, it only takes a matter of hours before symptoms begin to occur. The patients infected are likely to become susceptible to neurological damage due to inflammation of the brain, which can lead to both encephalitis and meningitis.

Currently, approximately ten percent of cases have led to death, with only 50 people affected in the U.S. each year (compared to the roughly 20,000 people who are affected by Lyme disease).

Although contracting the disease is quite rare, because of the possible fatality, doctors are urging people to do everything they can to prevent being infected. For people who work outdoors or camp in any of the affected areas, the chance of becoming infected is much higher.

Here are the main guidelines to follow to protect your family:

• Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass.
• Complete a full body check on yourself, children, and pets when spending time outdoors.
• Carry and use bug spray.

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Doctors Are Warning the Public About a Tick-Born Illness That Poses a Much More Serious Health Risk Than Lyme Disease

Doctors are warning the public about a tick-born illness that poses a much more serious health risk than Lyme Disease.

Known as the Powassan virus, blacklegged ticks (as well as groundhog ticks) are increasingly carrying the potentially deadly disease.

The rare virus falls under the same family as the West Nile virus and has symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease. However the virus acts extremely rapidly – people can begin to feel symptoms in just a matter of minutes – and the symptoms are severe. The incurable disease attacks the central nervous system and can cause vomiting, fever, headache, weakness, confusion, seizures, swelling of the brain and memory loss.

Currently, there are only around 50 people affected in the U.S. each year (compared to the estimated 20,000 people who are affected by Lyme disease) and there have only been 16 human cases reported in Eastern Canada, since it was first detected in Ontario back in 1958. Ten percent of people contracting Powassan virus die.

There has been a noticeable spike in the virus in 2015, with the virus being detected in the upper mid-west, Northeast and Great Lakes area of the U.S.

Although contracting the virus is still extremely rare, because of the potential for fatalities, authorities are warning people to take extra precautions to prevent becoming infected.

Health experts are recommending people use tick repellent and wear long sleeves and pants when spending time in wooded or bushy areas.

They also advise to take your clothes off and shower when home after spending time in the woods or areas that have ticks. Clothes can also be put into the dryer for at least an hour on high heat to kill the ticks.

Pets should also be checked for ticks if they accompany you on walks in wooded areas or regularly go outside.

Please share this video to help spread the word to prevent tick-born illnesses.
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