POWASSAN VIRUS

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Context    

• A tick-borne virus called Powassan virus has claimed its first victim in the United States of America.

Details

About

• Powassan virus disease (POWV) is a rare but serious illness caused by the Powassan virus.
• It is part of the tick-borne encephalitis virus-complex.

Transmission

• It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected deer tick, groundhog tick or squirrel tick.
• Ticks are external parasites that live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.
• The virus can be transmitted with bites from altogether six known species of ticks; the following four species of Ixodes ticks: Ixodes cookei, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes marxi and Ixodes spinipalpus and the ticks Dermacentor andersoni and Dermacentor variabilis.

Name

• It is named after the town of Powassan, Ontario, where it was identified in a young boy who eventually died from it.

Symptoms and Impact

• Most people who contract the virus do not show any symptoms but people might face fever, headache, vomiting and weakness from one week to a month after being bitten.
• Fever

• • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Seizures
  • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord)
• It can cause encephalitis, an infection of the brain.

Vaccine

• No approved vaccine or antiviral drug exists.
• Prevention of tick bites is the best precaution.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements: 1.    Powassan virus is part of the tick-borne encephalitis virus-complex that can cause encephalitis, an infection of the brain. 2.    There are approved vaccine or antiviral drug for this Viral Disease. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Answer: (a) Only 1

https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/first-death-from-powassan-virus-infection-in-us-all-about-the-tick-borne-disease-2384680-2023-05-26