Maine man dies from tick-borne sickness

Native

The deadly case of Powassan virus illness is the first-known occasion of the tick-borne sickness in Maine in 2023.

Maine well being officers are warning residents to be cautious of ticks, after a Portland resident died from a uncommon tick-borne sickness.

The Maine Middle for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed an grownup from Sagadahoc County died from Powassan virus illness Could 17, marking the first-known occasion of the non-treatable sickness within the state this 12 months. The sufferer was 58-year-old Robert J. Weymouth, of Portland, based on an area obituary.

“Circumstances of Powassan are uncommon in the USA, with about 25 circumstances reported annually since 2015,” the CDC wrote in a press launch. “Maine has recognized 15 circumstances since 2015, together with 4 in 2022. Two of the people who contracted Powassan in 2022 died of the sickness, making this the third recorded Powassan loss of life in Maine since 2015.”

Officers say individuals contract the virus primarily from contaminated deer ticks or woodchuck ticks, and a few who’re bitten won’t ever discover signs. Individuals who do expertise signs can begin to develop fevers, complications, vomiting, weak spot, confusion, seizures, or reminiscence loss per week to a month after the preliminary chunk.

“Some individuals might expertise critical neurologic issues, like mind or spinal wire irritation,” the CDC stated. “About 10 % of individuals with extreme illness die. In case you expertise any of those signs after a tick chunk, name a well being care supplier as quickly as attainable.”

Ticks reside in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas, and officers say they are often discovered throughout all 16 counties in Maine typically throughout the spring, summer time, and fall. The CDC recommends the next to keep away from and stop tick bites:

• Know tick habitat and take precautions in areas the place ticks might reside.
• Put on light-colored clothes that covers the legs and arms; tuck pants into socks.
• Use an EPA-approved repellent like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on pores and skin; use permethrin on clothes.
• Test for ticks each day and after any outside exercise. Test relations and pets too.
• Ask a veterinarian about tick chunk prevention for cats and canines.
• Take away your clothes if you get house and put it within the dryer earlier than washing. Use excessive warmth for 10-Quarter-hour to kill any crawling ticks that haven’t hooked up to you.

For extra data on the Powassan virus and ticks, individuals can view the Maine CDC Powassan web site, be taught data on repellents, watch Maine CDC’s tickborne illness movies, and go to the College of Maine Tick Lab web site.