Health experts are now concerned over the fact that the tick-borne virus that has already killed several people now might be lurking in New Jersey and can cause threat to life.
Similarity Between Lyme Disease and Powassan
There is a great similarity between the symptoms of Lyme disease and Powassan virus and include headaches, tell-tale rash and fevers. Hence, it is difficult to detect the virus in its early stage. The federal Centers for the Disease Control reveal that Lyme disease is the fourth highest disease to be diagnosed in New Jersey after Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York.
The woman who was killed also showed symptoms similar to the Lyme disease, but was later declared to be infected with the tick-borne virus.
The major concern is that unlike the Lyme disease, the tick-borne virus can be fatal. Apart from the above symptoms, Powassan tick-borne virus can also display other symptoms, including confusion, vomiting, memory loss and seizures.
Even after being cured completely, the patients may have to suffer from long-term neurological disorders. One of the major similarities between the Lyme disease and Powassan virus is that deer tick pass both these infections.
About the Powassan Virus
The Powassan tick-borne virus is related to the West Nile flavivirus. For the past 10 years, only 50 patients have been diagnosed with the tick virus. Even then, it is quite dangerous because in its severe stage it can lead to brain infection or encephalitis.
There have been cases where the infection does not cause any symptoms, however, 1 to 4 percent of the people living in the endemic regions have shown the presence of virus antibodies. This means that they have been exposed to this virus before, but never suffered from any symptoms.