Mumbai, May 27: The deadly Powassan virus disease has claimed first death in the US this year. The victim hailed from Sagadahoc County in the US state of Maine. Health authorities in the US have sounded an alarm after the Maine Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the death due to rare Powassan virus. According to The Independent, the deadly virus infects up to 25 people in the US every year.

What is Powassan virus disease? Is Powassan virus disease treatable? What are the symptoms? What precautions one should take to avoid Powassan virus disease? Know everything below. Xylazine Turning People Into 'Zombies' in US, Viral Videos Show People 'Acting Weird' After Taking 'Zombie Drug'.

What Is Powassan Virus Disease?

According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, a person gets infected with Powassan virus by the bite of an infected tick. The number of reported cases of people getting infected with Powassan virus has increased in recent years with infections being reported from the US, Canada and Russia.

How Is Powassan Virus Disease Transmitted To Humans?

The Powassan virus can be transmitted to humans by infected ticks.  US CDC states that ticks become infected when they feed on groundhogs, squirrels, mice, or other rodents that have the virus in their blood. When infected ticks bite people, they transmit the deadly virus. Notably, the Powassan virus is not transmitted from person to person, except in rare instances by blood transfusion. What Is the Monkeypox Virus? Here’s All You Need To Know About Smallpox-Like Disease Recently Reported in UK.

What Are Symptoms of Powassan Virus Disease?

During initial days after getting infected with Powassan virus, a person may experience fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness. If not diagnosed and treated, the rare virus can cause infection of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Symptoms of severe disease include confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, and seizures.

Prevention, Treatment and Vaccine:

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or medications to prevent Powassan virus infection. For treatment, an infected person can rely on rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medications. If the infection gravitates, the patient should be taken to hospital to receive support for breathing, staying hydrated, or reducing swelling in the brain.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2023 01:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).