MASS Live A rare deadly tick-borne disease was confirmed in a Massachusetts town.
Powassan virus, according to a release. And they are warning residents to take precautions.
Powassan virus, like Lyme, is transmitted through infected ticks. The virus is considered rare, but the health department said the number of reported cases of people sick from Powassan virus has increased in recent years.
There were 44 cases across the U.S. in 2023, including 10 in Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are no vaccines to prevent the virus, according to the CDC. There also aren’t any medicines to treat it.
The health department said most people exposed won’t feel ill. But others may become severely ill starting one week to a month after the tick bite. This includes meningitis, which includes inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, or encephalitis, which includes inflammation of the brain.
Signs and symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures, the health department said.