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The Rhode Island Division of Well being has reported a confirmed case of tick-borne Powassan virus illness in a Rhode Island resident.
The affected person, a person in his 70s, started experiencing signs of Powassan in late January. He’s recovering at residence.
Powassan is a tick-borne illness that’s discovered largely within the Northeast and the Nice Lakes area of the U.S. and in japanese Canada.
About 270 circumstances of Powassan have been reported in the US prior to now 10 years (2014-2023). Powassan circumstances are uncommon, however the reported variety of circumstances has elevated lately. In 2023, there have been 25 circumstances of Powassan reported in New England: 10 circumstances in Massachusetts, 5 circumstances in Connecticut, 5 circumstances in Maine, three circumstances in New Hampshire, one case in Vermont, and one case in Rhode Island.
Preliminary signs of Powassan embody fever, headache, vomiting, and generalized weak spot. The illness typically progresses to meningoencephalitis, which can embody meningeal indicators, altered psychological standing, seizures, aphasia (issue understanding or talking), paresis (muscular weak spot or paralysis), motion problems, or cranial nerve palsies.
Individuals with extreme Powassan illness typically should be hospitalized. There isn’t any vaccine or remedy for Powassan, so stopping publicity to ticks is the very best technique to keep away from this illness.
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