It may seem early to be thinking about ticks biting in New Jersey, but an early warning is what we have for a new tick-borne disease that has appeared in our state. In this case, people are what is threatened and endangered. Warming weather and more people getting outdoors increases the possibility of tick bites.
The same tick that carries Lyme disease has caused Powassan, otherwise known as POW. It is a virus infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance.
The disease has been recognized in the United States, Canada and Russia. In the United States, cases of POW virus disease have been reported primarily from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region, according to the CDC. These cases occur primarily in the late spring, early summer and mid-fall when ticks are most active.
There is not widespread awareness about the disease, but no need for panic currently. Cases of the Powassan virus remain rare in New Jersey, with just three cases reported since 2013. Those three cases were in Warren and Sussex counties, according to the N.J. Department of Health. The last reported case took place in 2015.
Two types of ticks carry he disease: the woodchuck tick (Ixodes cookei) and the black-legged or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). The deer tick is found across New Jersey and it is likely that this species is spreading POW in the region.
Some people bitten by a tick do not show symptoms at all. However, symptoms may show up one week to one month after being bitten by an infected tick. The infected tick needs to be attached to a person for a certain amount of time before it may transmit POW virus. The timeframe needed for POW virus is not known, but it is thought to be less than the time needed for other tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease (24-48 hours) and anaplasmosis (12-24 hours).
What is frightening is that there is no treatment for POW, which differentiates it from Lyme disease. People with severe POW virus illnesses often need to be hospitalized to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids, or medications to reduce swelling in the brain. About 10-15% of people that get POW have life-long neurological conditions afterward.
The NJ Department of Health's Communicable Disease Service says that approximately 75 cases of POW virus disease were reported in the United States over the past 10 years. Most cases have occurred in the Northeast United States and Great Lakes regions. Signs and symptoms of infection can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss. Long-term neurologic problems may occur.
Preventative measures are the same as other tick-related diseases:
- Avoid areas with high grass and leaf litter and walk in the center of trails when hiking.
- Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.
- Use products that contain permethrin to treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents or look for clothing pre-treated with permethrin.
- Treat dogs for ticks. Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and to some tickborne diseases. They may also bring ticks into your home. Tick collars, sprays, shampoos, or monthly “top spot” medications help protect against ticks.
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find crawling ticks before they bite you.
- Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon returning from tick-infested areas. Parents should help children check thoroughly for ticks. Remove any ticks right away.
- Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed.
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