steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
. I'm putting this in medical so more members read it.
Powassan virus, spread by ticks, could be worse than Lyme disease.
NEW YORK -- It spreads like Lyme disease, but doctors say it's even worse. Ticks in parts of the northeastern U.S. and around the Great Lakes have been found to carry a rare and potentially life-threatening virus.
CBS2 New York reports, doctors warn that the Powassan virus can come on with very sudden, severe symptoms. There is no known treatment or cure.
"The doctor just has to support you during the acute illness and hope that you survive," Dr. Daniel Cameron explained.
Cameron is president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. He said that if bitten by a Powassan-infected tick, you can get the virus within a matter of minutes, and while the symptoms are similar to Lyme disease, they are more severe.
"You can get seizures, high fevers, stiff neck. It comes on so suddenly that it's the kind of thing people go to the emergency room for," he explained.
Researchers with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station said the Powassan virus is starting to show up in Bridgeport and Branford. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has also been seen around the Great Lakes, primarily in late spring, early summer, and mid-fall, when ticks are most active.
Only about 50 cases of Powassan have been reported in the U.S. in the last 10 years.
"I couldn't imagine having something worse than this. It sounds really awful," Lyme disease patient Jennifer Cirigliano said.
Cirigliano was diagnosed with Lyme disease 2 years ago. The 15-year-old said it's been a long road of recovery.
"I was getting scared that there could be seriously something wrong," she said.
Now, with this emerging tick-borne illness, doctors say there's even more reason to be on the lookout throughout the spring and summer.
"Be more vigilant about checking. I can't stay indoors. Summer is the time to be outside," one woman said.
There are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Experts suggest using bug spray, wearing long pants and long sleeves outdoors, avoiding wooded areas, and checking yourself for ticks after you've spent time outside.
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
Just read about this.
And equally bad are the Heartland Virus (Missouri and Tennessee - and possibly Kansas) and Bourbon virus (Kansas). Both are deadly tick-bourne illnesses.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- [infection contracted] ". . . within a matter of minutes" [of the bite]
this should settle that old myth that a tick must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit infection. But the IDSA just does not want to let go of that myth. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Thanks a bunch for posting this. I saw the news clip the other day but just didn't feel up to copy & pasting. Glad you did. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Good point about attachment keeb
Its good the news is getting out therr but so many will ignor it
Its hard when its loved ones
I have sisters near branford-both garden a lot and kids near two great lakes. Some work in hospitals...but they just dont want to know
I dont understand why
I wonder what the future will bring...i will watch from sand and cement with my permethrin
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic