Awareness of ticks and the threat of Lyme disease comes with the territory for those who spend a fair amount of time in the Northeast outdoors. But ticks can carry diseases far worse than Lyme, including the terrifying Powassan virus.
The Bangor Daily News blog Journeys Over a Hot Stove recently ran an article examining the Powassan virus. According to the article, the virus can cause symptoms similar to encephalitis, including seizures, brain swelling, and loss of consciousness, and in 10% of the cases, death. Half the patients who survive suffer permanent and debilitatingly severe neurological damage.
Read more about ticks and the Powassan virus.
Also, read about the 14 diseases people can get from tick bites.
And don’t forget the bug spray.