Re: FW: Health Alert : Minnesota Records First Death from Tick-Borne Powassan...

[Guest guest]

Hmmm, I'm visiting in N. Minnesota at the time and a relative that works

at a VA hospital sent me this! AND, my brother had a typical tick bite with

a typical Lyme Disease " bull's eye " just 10 days ago.

Jan

(And, if somebody could do something about the swarms of mosquitos, that

would be nice too! ha)

Subject: FW: Health Alert : Minnesota Records First Death from Tick-Borne

Powassan Virus (#40647)

FYI~

Health Alert:Minnesota Records First Death from Tick-Borne Powassan Virus

Action Step: Please forward this information to clinics and hospitals

within your jurisdictions.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will issue a press release today

reporting the first known death in Minnesota from Powassan (POW) virus, a

tick-borne flavivirus that can cause encephalitis or meningitis. A second

case of encephalitis likely due to POW virus was also reported to date in

2011. The press release will emphasize the use of repellents containing DEET

or permethrin to prevent tick bites. It will be available later today at

www.health.state.mn.us.

MDH urges medical providers to note the following (also available at

_http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/hcp.html)_

(http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/hcp.html))

-Powassan (POW) virus, a tick-borne flavivirus related to West Nile virus,

can cause encephalitis or meningitis. Six POW cases were identified in

Minnesota residents from 2008-2010. In 2011, two cases of encephalitis likely

due to POW virus have been identified to date. One case, a woman in her 60s

from northern Minnesota, died from the infection. The other case, a man in

his 60s from Anoka County, is recovering at home.

-One strain of POW virus is transmitted by blacklegged ticks (also known

as deer ticks) (Ixodes scapularis), which also carry Lyme disease,

anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

-POW cases in Minnesota from 2008-2011 were exposed to ticks in a wide

area of northern Minnesota. MDH has also identified POW-positive ticks across

northern Minnesota and in southeastern Minnesota.

-Medical providers should consider the possibility of POW virus infection

in patients with central nervous system disease who have recent histories

of activities in wooded areas (with or without known tick bites) during

Minnesota's warm weather months.

-The only laboratories that offer testing for POW virus are at state

health departments (including MDH) and CDC. At this time, no commercial

laboratories offer serologic testing for the virus.

-Serum or CSF specimens from patients with central nervous system disease

can be submitted directly to the MDH Public Health Laboratory for arboviral

disease testing, including POW virus.

-In the event of a Minnesota state government shutdown starting July 1,

please contact MDH at to speak with an on-call epidemiologist

about timely testing for POW virus on a case-by-case basis. Specimens sent

directly to the MDH Public Health Laboratory without prior consultation with

an MDH epidemiologist will likely not be tested until the shutdown is over.

REPORTABILITY

Viral encephalitis and arboviral diseases are reportable to MDH; reports

need to include demographic, clinical, and laboratory information. Please

contact MDH tick-borne disease epidemiology staff at for

associated forms.

More information / guidelines

MDH: Tick-borne disease epidemiology or

_http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/hcp.html_

(http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/tickborne/hcp.html)