Recently, a woman died in United States due to infection of tick- borne Powassan virus. She was in her 90s. She’s the second person to test positive for Powassan virus in 2022.
What’s Powassan virus?
Powassan virus is a Flavivirus, which is transmitted by ticks. This virus is found in North America and Russian Far East. It’s named after the city of Powassan, Ontario. In Powassan town, this virus was first identified in 1958, for the first time.
Where is the virus found?
Powassan virus is found in the warm climate across Eurasia. In Eurasia, it’s a part of tick- borne encephalitis virus- complex. In Russian Far East, it appears to be introduced there 70 years ago.
Types of Powassan virus
Two types of Powassan virus are found in North Americaviz., lineage 1 and lineage 2.
Evolution of the virus
Powassan virus is an RNA virus, that split into two separate lineages namely
Lineage I – It’s labelled as “ prototype ” lineage; and
Lineage II – It’s labelled as deer tick virus( DTV) lineage.
Lineage II has the most genetic variation. It’s most likely the ancestral lineage, splitting due to positive natural selection. DTV is very closely related to Powassan virus.
How does this virus spread?
It spread through the bite of a tick infected with Powassan virus.
Symptoms of virus
Many people infected with the virus have no symptoms. Some shows mild symptoms like- Fever, Headache, Weakness, Vomiting, Encephalitis, Seizures, and Meningitis. Long- term neurologic symptoms include headaches and memory problems. Death is possible but it’s rare.
Related Articles
Final solution: The Hindu Editorial on giving earth a change to escape climate change effects
The influential Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made public its final ‘Synthesis’ report, which is part of the Sixth Assessment Cycle. Since 1990, when the IPCC began publicising its compilation of global scientific research linking...
Mallya bought properties in England, France while airline in crisis: CBI
Beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya bought properties worth Rs 330 crore in England and France during 2015-16 even as his Kingfisher Airlines was facing a cash crunch at that time and banks had not recovered the loans...
Uzbek kids’ death: Licence of Marion Biotech cancelled by UP authority
The manufacturing licence of Noida-based pharmaceutical firm Marion Biotech was cancelled on Wednesday by Uttar Pradesh authorities, according to officials. Marion Biotech's cough syrup Dok-1 was linked with the...