A tick bite led to former senator's death. Here's what is known about the virus

msn.com ^ | 10/30/19 | msn staff

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan died Monday at age 66 — nearly three years
after she was first hospitalized with what doctors later said was encephalitis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes Powassan virus as
an illness spread by the bite of infected ticks.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain often caused by an infection like the Powassan virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"The recovery process for viral encephalitis varies by case
with differing impacts on the brain, speech, vision, memory and muscle control.."

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

“Most cases in the United States occur in the northeast and Great Lakes regions
from late spring through mid-fall when ticks are most active,” according to the CDC.
“There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Powassan virus disease.” (Emphasis mine)

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Infectious Disease Ping - "Powassan virus" caused by tick bite

Outdoor enthusiasts at greatest risk
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain often caused by an infection like the Powassan virus.

[voicereason]

Awareness and Permethrin at this point are the only preventatives
against ticks.

[cuban leaf]

I moved from Seatttle to a hobby farm in south central KY. I didn’t know what a tick was until I moved here. I’ve been bitten 20 or 30 times, and that doesn’t count all the ones I picked off before they found a nice dinner spot.

But if I had been bitten that many times in the northeastern US, I’d probably be dead by now. Lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever are the risks here, and they are very rare. I believe that if more than half the ticks in the Northeast are carriers of lyme disease. It’s quite a bit lower here.

And the way you take the tick off also determines if the regurgitate the poison into you.

[bgill]

Where’s the #BanTicks!?

[cuban leaf]

All my outdoor clothes are covered in Permathrin.:)

[Gamecock]

That’s it. I am getting a tick dip.

[Eagles6]

Yep. Just bought a gallon.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

voicereason :" Awareness and Permethrin at this point are the only preventatives against ticks."

Prevention provides the basic protection.
Even something as simple as rubber bands around ankles as a preventative.
Ticks are attracted to warm-blooded animals, and generally found in tall grasses.
Campers and hunters are seasonally at high risk.
Symptoms of tick bites vary, and frequently the bite is misdiagnosed.

[glorgau]

Ticks are just nasty little b****s

[glorgau]

> I believe that if more than half the ticks in the Northeast are carriers of lyme disease.

I’ve heard that the actual number is around 20%. Still, those are lousy odds.

[Oldexpat]

Kill more deer and start using ddt.

[hanamizu]

I didn’t know what a tick was until I moved here (KY)

---

Ticks are the state bird of Missouri. And then there are the chiggers. When I’d visit my mom in California and see people actually sitting in the grass...

[C210N]

From the article, the money quote:

"...which explains their population increase being directly proportional to the rise in temperature as a consequence of global warming,”

[Dr. Sivana]

Prevention provides the basic protection.

In 1997, I lived in a wooded area of eastern Connecticut for one year, in an area known to be infested with Lyme Disease.

I am NOT outdoorsy, and went from the house to the car, from the car to the house, always wearing long sleeves, socks, sneakers or dress shoes. I still got Lyme, with the bullseye rash behind my left upper leg.

My wife blames the cat, who went outdoors, though he had been treated with FrontLine TopSpot. I blame foliage near the front door. We will never know.

Even with regular preventive measures, things happen.

For the record, we caught it early, and my body responded well to $20 worth of anti-biotics over three weeks.

[dangus]

The irony! Died from a brain infection!

[cuban leaf]

HAHA! That reminds me of a story: I was telling a guy here in rural KY that I was from seattle. He said he went to Pike place market once and there was a park there and people were sitting right in the grass. He was shocked.

I told him that they can do that because they’re not in Kentucky.

BTW, I call Kentucky “The garden of eden, but with more chiggers”.

I don’t like ticks, but I HATE chiggers.

[dfwgator]

I don’t like ticks, but I HATE chiggers.

[4yearlurker]

Creosote works good.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

As the old joke goes, being surrounded by many Dem bloodsuckers is usually called... poli-ticks.