What You Need to Know About the Powassan Virus This Summer

• Powassan virus is carried by deer ticks and can be transmitted to humans through tick bites.
• While Powassan virus disease is rare, a few cases have made headlines in recent weeks.
• Most people who contract the virus don’t have symptoms, but in rare cases, it can cause encephalitis and meningitis.

Headlines were made recently about two Connecticut residents with Powassan virus disease. While coronavirus has been making headlines for over a year, you may be wondering what exactly the lesser-known Powassan virus is and if there is reason to panic.

Experts say you probably don’t need to be concerned.

And you definitely don’t need to spend your summer indoors. Powassan virus can cause an extremely rare deer tick-borne infection that, for the most part, does not cause serious harm.

However, in rare cases, the virus can cause encephalitis (an infection of the brain) or meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord). In the last 10 years, there have been fewer than 200 cases of neuroinvasive disease from the Powassan virus.

Still, it’s best to avoid contracting the virus if you can. Here’s what you need to know.