Deadly tick-borne virus popping up in Northeast and Midwest
The weather is finally thawing, and that means everyone is ready to enjoy the outdoors. You might think you love spring, but ticks probably love it more.Warmer temperatures create the perfect condition for ticks to come out and feast on you or your pet. This season, there is more to fear from the parasite than Lyme disease.
Some ticks found in the Northeast and Midwest are carrying something called Powassan virus.
Dr. Cameron, the President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and said the symptoms are more severe than Lyme disease. "You can get seizures, high fevers, stiff neck," he told CBS 2 in New York.
There are no vaccines or treatments for Powassan, Dr. Cameron says that if you're infected the best the doctor can do is support you and hope for recovery. About 10% of cases are fatal according to stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Powassan is rare. The CDC reports that only 60 cases of the virus were reported over the past 10 years -- but the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station say the Powassan virus is starting to show up locally.
If you get bitten by a tick with Powassan a person or pet can be infected in a matter of minutes so, prevention can be lifesaving.
Below are the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's tips for avoiding ticks:
- Avoid bushy or wooded areas.
- Use tick repellent with 20%-30% DEET.
- Use products with .5% permethrin on clothing, boots or tents.
- Bathe as soon as you're indoors.
- Do a full body scan for ticks especially under arms, in your belly button and in your hair.
- Put clothing in the dryer on high for an hour to kill any remaining ticks that are hiding.
And of course, keep your pets up to date with flea and tick prevention products.
Also on AOL:
Rattlesnake bites dog that protects woman
Strain of dog flu more complex than originally thought
Over 100 Spokane, Washington, students pulled from school over vaccination records
