A New York resident has died after contracting the Powassan virus, a rare virus spread by deer ticks, health officials announced.
The Ulster County Health Department was notified of the victim's death on Wednesday, according to a press release. It is the first known case of a diagnosis of Powassan virus in the state this year, health officials said.
While the virus is rare, the number of people contracting it has increased in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most cases in the U.S. occur in the northeast and Great Lakes regions from late spring through mid-fall, when ticks are most active. As the virus progresses, it can cause encephalitis, or infection of the brain, or meningitis, infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. About one of 10 people who experience severe disease die, and about half of the people who survive severe disease experience long-term health problems, including recurring headaches, loss of muscle mass and strength and memory problems, according to the CDC.
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