Connecticut Department of Public Health confirms first fatal case of Powassan virus in 2022

The Connecticut Department of Public Health confirmed the first fatal case in 2022 of Powassan virus, a tick-borne illness, on Tuesday, according to a release.

The female patient lived in the New London area and was between the age of 90 to 99 years old, according to the release.

She was admitted to a local hospital after experiencing a “fever, altered mental status, headache, chills, rigors, chest pain and nausea,” the release said. Her condition worsened, and she became unresponsive for two weeks before passing away on May 17.

She had a tick bite two weeks prior to experiencing symptoms and further tests confirmed antibodies for Powassan virus, the release said.

“This incident reminds us that residents need to take actions to prevent tick bites now through the late fall,” Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said.

Powassan virus is typically spread by infected black-legged or deer ticks, Juthani said. Symptoms take between one week to a month to develop symptoms of Powassan virus, but an infection takes “as little as 15 minutes after the tick first attaches,” according to the release.

“DPH stresses the use of insect repellent this summer and avoiding high-risk areas, such as tall grass, where ticks may be found,” Juthani said. “It’s also important to check carefully for ticks after being outside which can reduce the chance of you and your family members being infected with this dangerous virus.”

While most people infected with the virus likely experience no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness, some people will develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system. About one out of 10 cases of severe illness are fatal and about half of survivors experience long-term health problems.

Severe cases may begin with fever, vomiting, headache, or weakness and rapidly progress to confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking or seizures. There is no vaccine nor a specific treatment for Powassan virus-associated illness. Severe illness is treated by supportive therapy which may include hospitalization, respiratory support, and hydration.

Ticks are a growing menace in Connecticut, spreading Lyme disease and other serious maladies as continued warming allows the blood-sucking parasites to survive and thrive.

The first case of Powassan virus in Connecticut came in late March. A Windham man in his 50s was hospitalized with a central nervous system disease and had a known tick bite, officials said. The male recovered in his home after being discharged.

There have been 14 reported cases in the state since 2017, three were considered fatal, according to the release.

The unidentified Windham resident, who is in his 50s, became ill at the end of March, the state Department of Public Health announced Wednesday. Tests performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado, confirmed the presence of antibodies to the virus.

DPH said most people experience either no symptoms or light flu-like symptoms, but in some cases, people can develop “severe illness affecting the central nervous system.” They said about one in 10 cases of severe illness is fatal and about half of the survivors of severe cases experience long-term health problems.

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