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        Powassan Virus
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May 15, 2024
  Transmission of Powassan Virus
          Key points
            * Powassan virus is a tickborne flavivirus.
            * It is maintained in the environment between Ixodes species ticks and small rodents.
            * Humans are dead-end hosts but can rarely transmit the virus through blood transfusions.
        Virus
          * Powassan virus disease is caused by a tickborne flavivirus (genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae).
          * There are two lineages of Powassan virus, specifically Lineage 1 - Powassan virus and Lineage 2 - deer tick virus.
          * Powassan virus has been identified in North America and isolated locations of Russia.
          * It is related to tick-borne encephalitis virus that occurs in Europe and Asia.
        Transmission
        Powassan virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks become infected when they feed on groundhogs, squirrels, mice, or other rodents that have the virus in their blood. Infected ticks can then spread Powassan virus to people and other animals by biting them. People do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their blood to infect biting ticks. As a result, people are considered "dead-end" hosts for Powassan virus.
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                  Powassan virus transmission cycle
          Powassan virus transmission cycle
        The virus is not transmitted from person to person, except in rare instances by blood transfusion. Because the virus can be transmitted through blood, persons who were recently diagnosed with Powassan virus infection should not donate blood or bone marrow for 120 days following infection.
        Three types of ticks spread Powassan virus and are primarily found in the eastern half of the United States.
          * Ixodes cookei (groundhog tick),
          * Ixodes marxi (squirrel tick), and
          * Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged or deer tick).
        The groundhog tick and the squirrel tick rarely bite people. The blacklegged, or deer tick, which feeds mainly on white-footed mice and deer, often bites people. These bites can result in several types of diseases (e.g., Lyme disease).
        Ticks can attach to any part of the body but are often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and scalp.
        Prevent getting sick with Powassan virus by preventing tick bites.
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  May 14, 2024
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          Content Source:
        National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
        Sources
          * Taylor L, Condon T, Destrampe EM, et al. Powassan virus infection likely acquired through blood transfusion presenting as encephalitis in a kidney transplant recipient. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;72(6):1051-1054. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa738.
          * Ebel GD. Update on Powassan virus: emergence of a North American tick-borne flavivirus. Annu Rev Entomol. 2010;55:95-110. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-112408-085446.
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    Powassan Virus
    Powassan virus is primarily spread by ticks. Learn about areas at risk, the illness it causes, and ways to prevent becoming infected.
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