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University of Nebraska Medical Center

Mainer hospitalized with tick-borne disease

Bangor Daily News A Hancock County resident has been hospitalized with the first human case of Powassan virus infection recorded by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention this year.

The adult was experiencing neurologic symptoms, according to the Maine CDC. The Powassan virus is spread through deer or woodchuck tick bites, and can infect a bitten person in just 15 minutes.

Some people who contract Powassan virus do not show any symptoms, while others may experience a fever and flu-like illness. More severe symptoms include seizures, memory loss or brain or spinal cord inflammation.

For more information on Powassan virus, including prevention and detection, visit the Maine CDC’s   Powassan virus website. Visit the   UMaine Tick Lab for more information about tick identification and testing.

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