Overview

• The five-week-old infant was medevacked to Massachusetts General Hospital after a persistent fever progressed to seizures and brain inflammation, and she remains in critical condition with neurological complications.
• Island and state health officials have submitted samples for confirmatory testing at state and CDC labs to verify the presence of Powassan virus, which carries no vaccine or specific treatment.
• Martha’s Vineyard Boards of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have expanded tick surveillance and issued guidance on EPA-registered repellents, protective clothing and daily body and pet checks.
• CDC data show emergency-room visits for tick bites in the Northeast have reached a five-year high, reflecting an unusually active season driven by milder winters and rising deer populations.
• Tufts University research indicates that between 1% and 2% of local deer ticks carry Powassan virus, underscoring the importance of preventive measures to block transmission within minutes of a bite.