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Rare tick disease poses a danger in Minnesota lakes area
State health officials say blacklegged ticks are moving north and Powassan cases remain rare but can cause permanent neurological damage.
- Minnesota Department of Health officials warn that the lakes area presents significant risks during peak tick season, with Elizabeth Schiffman noting the period from late May through mid-July carries the highest risk for tick-borne diseases.
- While Lyme disease is more common, the Powassan virus is a rarer but severe threat; Matthew Aliota of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities notes about 5% of ticks carry the virus, which can cause permanent neurological damage.
- Cass and Itasca counties recorded the highest Powassan case numbers from 2008 to 2022, while Teal Johannsen shared her story of her father, Jeffrey, whose active life was impacted by the virus after contracting it near Gull Lake.
- Utilizing protective clothing and EPA-registered repellents like Permethrin is essential for prevention; Schiffman advises checking for EPA registration indicators on product labels to ensure repellents work as intended.
- Diagnostics for Powassan remain challenging because symptoms often mimic generalized illnesses, and Schiffman notes the virus is not regularly included in standard commercial laboratory panels, complicating early detection for providers.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Duluth News Tribune+13 Reposted by 13 other sources
Rare tick disease poses a danger in Minnesota lakes area
GULL LAKE, Minn. — Tick populations are moving north this season, and there's been an increase in tick-bite-related emergency room visits, according to state health officials. The deer tick — also known as the blacklegged tick — can carry not only Lyme disease and other pathogens, but also Powassan virus, a fairly recent discovery which has no treatment and can leave behind permanent neurological damage. From 2008-2022, Cass and Itasca counties …
·Cherokee County, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left0Leaning Right7Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Right
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources lean Right
70% Right
C 30%
R 70%
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