Madison Area Lyme Support Group

The Connecticut Department of Public Health announced the state’s first reported Powassan virus infection of the year this past Wednesday. Powassan virus is a rare disease spread by the same tick that causes Lyme disease, according to a recent press release. 

“The identification of a Connecticut resident with Powassan virus associated illness emphasizes the need to take actions to prevent tick bites from now through the late fall,” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, who is the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health.

“Using insect repellent, avoiding areas where ticks are likely, and checking carefully for ticks after being outside can reduce the chance of you or your children being infected with this virus.”

Powassan virus, first discovered in Powassan, Ontario in 1958, is usually spread through the bite of an infected black-legged or deer tick, officially known as Ixodes scapularis, and can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick bite, but it can take a week up to one month to develop symptoms, per the release. (See link for article)

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SUMMARY:

• The article regurgitates the myth that it takes 36-48 hours for a tick to transmit Lyme, when minimum transmission times have never been established.  Treat each and every tick bite as seriously as a heart attack.
• They state infections secondary to Powassan have been recognized.  In fact, there are 19 and counting different infections ticks transmit – and they can transmit them simultaneously.
• They falsely state that Powassan infections are rare.  What is rare, is they are rarely reported.  Big difference.
• While those who work outdoors are perhaps at greater risk, you can become infected right in your own back yard.
• The infected Connecticut man had central nervous system symptoms and was hospitalized and diagnosed, but is now recovering at home.
• Early symptoms look like every other tick-borne illness (headache, flu-like symptoms, and even no symptoms at all) but can rapidly progress to confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking and seizures.
• Since it’s a virus, mainstream medicine believes there is no effective treatment.  Similarly to COVID, there is.  Please see a Lyme literate doctor asap. 
• 1 in 10 cases are fatal, with half of survivors experiencing long-term complications.
• The article falsely states touts the EM or bulls-eye rash as an “early symptom”.  This rash is highly variable and many never get it at all.  To be clear, IF you get the rash you have Lyme disease and should immediately start treatment.  To wait is foolish and irresponsible.
• The article ends as every single article on TBIs ends – with tick prevention.  It’s sad that I can almost state what these articles say without even reading them.  Same old, same old – nothing new here.

For more: 

• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2021/07/09/what-is-powassan-virus/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/02/21/powassan-virus/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/06/28/powassan-can-kill/