The virus that can be passed from squirrels to ticks to humans
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A former U.S. Senator died at the age of 66 nearly three years after she was first hospitalized for a sickness that no one could quite pinpoint. Doctors now say it was due to encephalitis caused by powassan virus, a relatively rare tick-borne disease. The virus can be indirectly spread to humans from things like squirrels via a tick bite. Many people who become infected with the virus report feeling sick anywhere from one week to one month after being bitten, although some never have any symptoms at all.
According to the CDC, most cases of encephalitis occur in the upper-Midwestern, mid-Atlantic, and southeastern states. They state that the most common symptoms, if any at all, are nausea, headache, fever, vomiting, severe fatigue, and sometimes seizures. There is no vaccine to treat the virus, however, if someone contracts the illness, they must be hospitalized to begin treatment.
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A tick bite led to US Senator’s death. Here’s what is known about the virus.
Former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan died at age 66 — nearly three years after she was first hospitalized with what doctors later said was encephalitis.
The cause? Powassan virus, a relatively rare tick-borne disease.
Ticks can be infected after feeding on groundhogs, squirrels, mice or rodents carrying the virus in their blood, according to the CDC.
But it’s a one-way street. Read more
Summary: A former U.S. Senator died at the age of 66 nearly three years after she was first hospitalized for a sickness that no one could quite pinpoint. Doctors now say it was due to encephalitis caused by powassan virus, a relatively rare tick-borne disease.
La Crosse Encephalitis: Diseases indirectly passed by rodents
La Crosse encephalitis is a viral disease spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most cases occur in the upper Midwestern, mid-Atlantic, and southeastern states. Many people infected have no apparent symptoms. Some of those who become ill develop severe neuroinvasive disease (disease that affects the nervous system). Severe disease often involves encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) and can include seizures, coma, and paralysis. Severe disease occurs most often in children under the age of 16. Learn more
Summary: According to the CDC, most cases of encephalitis occur in the upper-Midwestern, mid-Atlantic, and southeastern states. The virus can be indirectly passed to humans from animals such as squirrels, via a tick bite or mosquito bite.
La Crosse virus neuroinvasive disease cases reported by state of residence, 2009–2018 Credit: CDC