A Rhode Island man in his 60s, from Providence County, is recovering at home after being diagnosed with the rare tick-borne Powassan virus. He began experiencing symptoms in May.

Powassan Virus Cases on the Rise

Powassan is a tick-borne disease found mostly in the Northeast and the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and in eastern Canada. Over 397 cases have been reported in the U.S. in the past 10 years, with cases being rare but increasing in recent years.

Dr. Jerry Larkin, the state’s health director, emphasized the importance of tick prevention measures, especially during the summer. He advised people to repel and reduce their exposure to ticks, check their bodies for ticks, and remove them promptly to prevent serious health issues caused by illnesses like Powassan and Lyme Disease.

Last year, there were 27 cases of Powassan reported in New England, including 12 in Massachusetts, six in Maine, five in Connecticut, and four in New Hampshire. A 66-year-old New Hampshire man was recently hospitalized for weeks with the Powassan virus.

While many people with a Powassan infection do not have symptoms, some patients develop a fever and neurologic disease. In severe cases, the illness can progress to meningitis, encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis, with signs including altered mental status, seizures, difficulty speaking, muscular weakness or paralysis, movement disorders, and paralysis of muscles in the head and neck. Severe cases often require hospitalization.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.