What is Powassan Virus?

About Powassan Virus Disease:

• It is a rare, yet often serious disease that is spread by the bite of infected ticks. 
• The Powassan virus, often called a ticking time bomb, is named after Powassan, Ontario where it was first discovered in 1958. 
• How do people get affected?
  • Not all ticks carry these viruses and not all people bitten by a tick will get sick.
  • A tick needs to be attached to a person for a certain length of time before it can cause disease. 
• Symptoms:
  • People in the initial days can experience symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness.
  • The virus can further cause brain infection (encephalitis) or form the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
  • In severe cases, patients can suffer from confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, and seizures.
• Treatment:
  • There are no medications to prevent or treat Powassan virus infection.
  • Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medications may relieve some symptoms.

 

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Q1) What is a Virus?

A virus is an infectious microbe consisting of a segment of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone; instead, it must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of itself. Often, a virus ends up killing the host cell in the process, causing damage to the host organism.

Source: First death from Powassan virus infection in US: All about the tick-borne disease