This is potentially far more serious than Lyme’s disease and carried by the same tick.
Yes, but as stated, many asymptomatic and only among the most severe of the symptomatic get to that 1 in 10 stat. Random or, more likely, tied to general health?
(From the article):" Powassan virus are asymptomatic, those that are symptomatic can be deadly,.. Initial symptoms include headache, fever and vomiting, with the most severe cases involving neurological complications
such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis.
Roughly 1 in 10 neuroinvasive cases of Powassan virus are fatal..."
Lyme disease, is a bacterial infection and can be arrested by timely use of antibiotics (generally within 24 hours).
According to the CDC:" There is no specific treatment for Powassan virus disease; clinical management is supportive.
Patients with severe meningeal symptoms often require pain control for headaches and antiemetic therapy and rehydration for associated nausea and vomiting.
Patients with encephalitis require close monitoring for the development of elevated intracranial pressure, seizures, and inability to protect their airway." Thus requiring hospitalization until symptoms subside.
(My Comment) : Years ago, Powassan virus was thought to be limited to the Upper Great Lakes, Canada, and Michigan area.
Obviously, it has spread to throughout the general east Coast via mammalian vectors such as wild deer herds and many other vectors.
PING.