The Powassan Virus Alert: A Deadly Tick-Borne Disease Now Spreading Through Suffolk County

While most Suffolk County residents are familiar with Lyme disease, a far more dangerous tick-borne illness is quietly spreading through our neighborhoods. Powassan (POW) virus disease is rare, but often serious disease caused by a virus that is spread by the bite of infected ticks. Although still rare, the number of reported cases of people sick from Powassan virus has increased in recent years. Recently Powassan Virus, or POW, has been in the news because it was reported that New York had the second-highest number of cases in the U.S.

Understanding Powassan Virus: The Silent Threat

Powassan virus (POW) is an arbovirus within the family of Flaviviruses primarily found in the Northeastern United States, Canada, and Russia. It is a zoonotic infection transmitted to humans by several tick species and is the only member of the tick-borne flaviviruses endemic to North America. This tick is a vector for a number of tick borne diseases including Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and powassan.

What makes Powassan virus particularly alarming is its rapid transmission rate. Powassan virus may spread from ticks to people in as little as 15 minutes after a bite. This is dramatically faster than Lyme disease, which typically requires 24-48 hours of tick attachment for transmission.

Symptoms and Mortality Rates

Many people infected with Powassan virus do not have symptoms. For people with symptoms, the time from tick bite to feeling sick ranges from 1 week to 1 month. Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness.

The disease can rapidly progress to severe neurological complications. Powassan virus can cause severe disease, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Symptoms of severe disease include confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, and seizures.

The mortality statistics are sobering. Among patients who become symptomatic, the case fatality rate is as high as 10% to 15%. Approximately 10% of Powassan virus neuroinvasive disease cases are fatal and about half of survivors have long-lasting neurologic deficits, such as headaches, muscle weakness, focal paralysis, or cognitive difficulties.

No Treatment Available

Perhaps most concerning is the lack of medical interventions. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Powassan virus disease. Currently, no approved chemoprophylaxis, vaccine, or disease-specific treatment for POW virus infection exists. Management of patients is supportive and should involve the expertise of an infectious disease specialist. General supportive treatment with intravenous fluids, antipyretics, and critical care, as required, have been effective, but the overall case mortality remains high.

Powassan Virus in Suffolk County

A single case of Heartland virus has been reported in NYS, and Bourbon virus has been isolated from ticks in Suffolk Co. Additionally, 15 I. scapularis collected in Nassau were positive for Powassan virus, 13 of which were further identified to be Powassan virus lineage II (deer tick virus; DTV), a highly pathogenic emergent human virus whose incidence has been increasing in south‐eastern NYS throughout the previous decade. Detection of DTV in questing adult and nymph I. scapularis has already been reported in Suffolk, Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties.

Powassan encephalitis, a tick-borne viral illness that can cause encephalitis or meningitis, is reported each year in New York State as well, although case numbers are very low (generally 1-5 cases annually statewide.

The Importance of Professional Tick Control

Given the severity of Powassan virus and the lack of treatment options, prevention becomes absolutely critical. This is where professional pest control services become essential for Suffolk County residents. Reduce your risk of infection by preventing ticks. Reduce your risk by avoiding ticks.

Jones Tree and Plant Care, a leading Suffolk County pest control company, understands the unique challenges facing Long Island residents. Jones Tree and Plant Care will inspect your landscape, diagnose any problems, and make recommendations based on knowledge and expertise gained through over 10 years of experience in the industry. We take a total tree and plant care approach to enrich the condition of your soil, improve the growth of your plantings, and increase the overall appearance of your Nassau or Suffolk County property. We are committed to offering treatments that are effective, yet safe for the environment, and affordable to you.

Comprehensive Tick and Mosquito Control Solutions

Professional Tick Control Suffolk County, NY services have become more important than ever. These biting insects can carry and transmit various diseases, making outdoor activities less enjoyable and potentially harmful. If you are looking for a long-term solution to your pest problems, Jones Tree and Plant Care’s organic tick & mosquito spraying and control services are the perfect solution. We offer comprehensive insect spraying service with integrated pest management for pest-free outdoor living.

Ticks, too, carry an assortment of harmful diseases, the most notorious of which is Lyme disease; however, these parasites can also transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, ehrlichiosis, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), alpha-gal allergy, and tularemia. At best, mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses can cause unpleasant symptoms; at worst, they can cause debilitating, life-long side effects, and can even be deadly.

Why Choose Professional Treatment?

We use a combination of safe and effective techniques to control tick populations, including spraying, habitat modification, and pet grooming. Our mosquito control services are safe, effective, and affordable. We use a combination of control measures that are proven to be highly effective and safe for humans, pets, and the environment. Our techniques and strategies can reduce the population of mosquitoes in your yard by up to 90%.

Jones Tree and Plant Care’s approach goes beyond simple spraying. At Jones Tree and Plant Care, we also provide mosquito and tick control that is much safer for you and the environment than DEET and other harmful chemicals, yet are even more effective than traditional pesticides. With these services, you can have peace of mind knowing that those pesky pests will be kept at bay and that your health and the health of the environment won’t be negatively impacted.

Taking Action to Protect Your Family

With Powassan virus cases on the rise and no medical treatment available, prevention through professional tick control is your family’s best defense. An investment in professional organic mosquito and tick control for your Long Island yard is an investment in your health and overall well-being, as well as the health and well-being of your loved ones.

We offer tree spraying and insect control to all of Suffolk County! Jones Tree and Plant Care tailors specific programs based on the needs of each individual customer and property. Don’t wait until tick season peaks – contact Jones Tree and Plant Care today to discuss comprehensive tick control solutions for your Suffolk County property.

The threat of Powassan virus is real and growing in Suffolk County. While we cannot eliminate all risk, professional tick control services provide the most effective barrier between your family and these dangerous disease vectors. In the fight against tick-borne diseases, prevention truly is your best medicine.