The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the state’s first human case of Powassan virus for 2026 in a Penobscot County resident.
The individual contracted the rare tick-borne illness in Maine. This is a non-neuroinvasive case, meaning the virus did not infect the central nervous system. Patients with non-neuroinvasive Powassan infections typically experience flu-like symptoms and are expected to make a full recovery.
Powassan virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected deer ticks. Unlike Lyme disease, the virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after a tick attaches. There is no specific treatment or vaccine. Care is supportive. While many infections are asymptomatic, neuroinvasive cases can lead to severe complications including meningitis or encephalitis, with approximately 10% of those cases proving fatal and others resulting in long-term neurological problems.
This marks the first confirmed Powassan case in Maine this year. Since 2000, the state has recorded 41 cases of the virus.
Health officials are reminding residents and visitors to take precautions against tick bites, especially during outdoor activities in wooded or brushy areas:
- Perform daily full-body tick checks
- Wear long sleeves and pants when in tick habitat
- Use EPA-approved insect repellents
- Avoid high-grass and leaf-litter areas
- Shower soon after being outdoors
The Maine CDC has issued a health advisory to clinicians, urging them to consider testing for Powassan virus in patients presenting with unexplained fever, meningitis, or encephalitis during the warmer months.
Powassan virus remains rare nationally, but cases have been increasing in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions in recent years. Residents with symptoms consistent with the illness should seek medical attention promptly.
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