A case of tick-borne Powassan virus in a child

With tick-borne viruses such as Powassan virus increasing in Canada, clinicians should consider these infections in patients with encephalitis, as a case study shows in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Although rare, Powassan virus is serious, with a death rate of 10–15% in people with encephalitis, and it can cause lingering health effects after infection. The virus can transmit within 15 minutes of tick attachment, and symptoms can develop one to five weeks later. In this case study, a 9-year-old child with up-to-date vaccinations was admitted to hospital after a visit to an emergency department for fever, neck stiffness, and Read More