A Connecticut lady in her 90s has died of the uncommon Powassan virus, based on the state’s Division of Public Well being, the second case recorded there this yr.
The deceased is known to have been taken ailing with the uncommon illness after being bitten by a tick early final month. She was subsequently hospitalised, her situation worsened, and he or she handed away on 17 Could.
In April, a person in Maine was killed by the identical virus after growing a neurological situation.
The Powassan virus is usually transmitted to people from bites by contaminated deer ticks, groundhog ticks or squirrel ticks, mostly within the Nice Lakes area of North America between late spring and mid-autumn.
In response to the Centres for Illness Management and Prevention, most individuals who contract the virus don’t expertise signs however those that do would possibly face fever, headache, vomiting and weak point from one week to a month after being bitten.
Nevertheless, it may possibly trigger critical sickness in round one in ten circumstances together with an infection of the mind (referred to as encephalitis) or the membranes surrounding the mind and spinal twine (meningitis).
In such situations, signs would possibly embrace confusion, lack of coordination, problem talking and seizures and lead to long-term well being issues in 50 per cent of extreme circumstances.
There may be at present no vaccine for the Powassan virus or treatment to deal with it so the general public is suggested to take preventative measures when open air by understanding the terrain through which ticks would possibly thrive (tall grass, bushes and woodland) and carrying permethrin-treated clothes and kit that provide safety in opposition to bites.
Those that consider they’ve contracted a extreme case of the illness ought to search hospital care.
The excellent news is that the virus is extraordinarily uncommon, with solely 10 circumstances reported between 2011 and 2014, though there’s purpose to consider it might step by step be turning into extra of a menace, on condition that Connecticut alone has seen 12 circumstances between 2017 and 2021, solely two of which proved deadly.
State well being commissioner Dr Manisha Juthani cautioned that the newest demise from the virus serves as a reminder to “take actions to forestall tick bites from now by means of the late fall”.
“Utilizing insect repellant, avoiding areas the place ticks are possible, and checking fastidiously for ticks after being outdoors can scale back the prospect of you or your kids being contaminated with this virus,” she suggested.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
