Uncommon tick-borne virus investigated on Martha’s Winery
Public well being officers mentioned Monday they’re investigating a attainable case of Powassan virus, a critical however uncommon tick-borne illness that has been on the rise lately, on Martha’s Winery.
The potential case comes throughout one of many worst tick seasons in New England in years, with a surge of tick-borne illnesses and tick exposures. Just one case of Powassan virus has been recorded on Martha’s Winery up to now 20 years, officers mentioned. To this point this yr, three circumstances have been confirmed in Massachusetts.
Powassan virus is unfold to folks by the chew of an contaminated tick and could be transmitted inside simply quarter-hour. Preliminary signs can embody fever, headache, and vomiting. Extreme circumstances could cause mind swelling, seizures, and long-term neurological problems. There are not any vaccines to stop or medicines to deal with the virus.
Most circumstances happen within the Northeast and Nice Lakes area from late spring by mid-fall, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Powassan virus is carried by nymph and grownup deer ticks.
“The virus is current yearly in a small proportion of deer ticks; fortuitously, extreme illness stays very uncommon,” Dr. Sam Telford, a Tufts College professor who has performed analysis on Martha’s Winery, mentioned in a press release. Collaborating with the island’s tick program, his lab examined greater than 3,500 nymph deer ticks between 2021 and 2024. Between 1 and a couple of p.c of deer ticks have been contaminated, he mentioned.
“It is a comparable charge to that seen elsewhere in New England,” he mentioned. “This means that many people who find themselves uncovered might efficiently struggle off the virus with out ever realizing they have been contaminated.”
Officers didn’t disclose the age of the resident, or once they might need been contaminated with the virus. However the Winery Gazette reported the virus was present in a 1-month-old from West Tisbury. The household of the toddler mentioned she has suffered mind harm from the an infection however is at present listed as secure and is receiving remedy at Massachusetts Common Hospital in Boston.
“We actually had no thought a 20-minute stroll on the West Tisbury bike path beside our residence, a stroll we do most daily, may doubtlessly trigger my youngster her life. Please, please, please verify yourselves, your kids and your pets. It was the tiniest nymph tick the dimensions of a needle tip,” Tiffany Sisco and Marcus Sisco wrote in a Fb put up Saturday warning residents concerning the risks of the virus. “Keep protected and cautious.”
“Lastly please proceed the love and prayers for our candy daughter Lily Sisco, she’s one hell of a fighter!” the household wrote, linking to a GoFundMe marketing campaign to assist pay for medical prices that has raised greater than $20,000.
On the Winery, nymph deer ticks, the second life stage of ticks, are most energetic from Might by July, Patrick Roden-Reynolds, the director of the island’s tick program, mentioned in a press release.
“This makes nymph deer ticks the principle driver of infectious illnesses reminiscent of Lyme illness, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus,” he mentioned. Nonetheless, “grownup deer ticks turn into energetic within the fall and stay so all through the winter and early spring every time temperatures exceed 40″ levels.
Lea Hamner, contract epidemiologist for Dukes County, mentioned stopping tick bites is the most effective safety.
Officers advisable taking steps together with utilizing EPA-registered tick repellents, treating clothes and kit with permethrin, an insecticide, carrying snug-fitting and light-colored clothes, and performing every day tick checks.
Shannon Larson could be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Comply with her @shannonlarson98.