POWASSAN VIRUS
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Context
- A tick-borne virus called Powassan virus has claimed its first victim in the United States of America.
Details
About
- Powassan virus disease (POWV) is a rare but serious illness caused by the Powassan virus.
- It is part of the tick-borne encephalitis virus-complex.
Transmission
- It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected deer tick, groundhog tick or squirrel tick.
- Ticks are external parasites that live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.
- The virus can be transmitted with bites from altogether six known species of ticks; the following four species of Ixodes ticks: Ixodes cookei, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes marxi and Ixodes spinipalpus and the ticks Dermacentor andersoni and Dermacentor variabilis.
Name
- It is named after the town of Powassan, Ontario, where it was identified in a young boy who eventually died from it.
Symptoms and Impact
- Most people who contract the virus do not show any symptoms but people might face fever, headache, vomiting and weakness from one week to a month after being bitten.
- Fever
-
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord)
- It can cause encephalitis, an infection of the brain.
Vaccine
- No approved vaccine or antiviral drug exists.
- Prevention of tick bites is the best precaution.
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements: 1. Powassan virus is part of the tick-borne encephalitis virus-complex that can cause encephalitis, an infection of the brain. 2. There are approved vaccine or antiviral drug for this Viral Disease. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Answer: (a) Only 1 |