A concerning case of the Powassan virus, which is a rare and potentially deadly illness transmitted by tick bites, is being investigated on Martha's Vineyard after a newborn was suspected to be infected, according to health officials and reports by WCVB. The infant, named Lilly Sisco, experienced severe symptoms including seizures and is currently receiving intensive care at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston as her family anxiously waits for conclusive test results.
The infant's mother, Tiffany Sisco, discovered a minuscule tick on Lilly's ankle after a walk and despite their quick response, the baby developed a high fever leading to her hospitalization, Sisco recounted her experience, "I picked it off and I called him in and said, 'What do we do?' Because he's more familiar with them being a landscaper, and he said, 'Just throw it away, and we'll monitor her and make sure she doesn't get a rash, a bull's eye, anything like that, like a week later she started getting a fever of 102, I said, 'I'm taking her right in,'" in a statement obtained by WCVB.
With this year seeing 24 cases across seven states, Massachusetts has reported three, and Martha's Vineyard is potentially facing its second case in 20 years, information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention illuminates the concerning uptick in Powassan virus infections, which can lead to severe brain swelling and long-term neurological issues without any current treatments or vaccines available.
Dr. Sam Telford, a Tufts University professor who has conducted extensive research on ticks at Martha’s Vineyard explained, "The virus is present every year in a small percentage of deer ticks; fortunately, severe disease remains very rare," his lab has tested thousands of nymph deer ticks in the area, finding that about 1 to 2% are infected which mirrors infection rates seen in other parts of New England, suggesting that many people might fight off the virus unknowingly. The Siscos remain hopeful for Lilly's recovery even though they hold grave concerns about how the brain damage indicated by tests might affect her development as Marcus Sisco told WCVB, "She's a fighter, though, very strong kid."
Amidst the region's worst tick season in five years, prevention advice from experts includes using insect repellent, dressing in light-colored clothes to spot ticks easily, staying on trails, and performing thorough tick checks after being outdoors, as per CBS Boston's recent reporting. Tiffany Sisco urges others, "Please, please, please check yourselves, your children and your pets," in light of her harrowing ordeal with her daughter, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in areas where ticks might be present.
