An Emerging Cause of Arboviral Encephalitis in Pennsylvania

TL;DR

This paper reports a case of Powassan virus encephalitis in Pennsylvania and discusses the growing risk due to expanding tick populations.

Contribution

The paper presents a new case of POWV encephalitis and emphasizes the diagnostic challenges associated with the virus.

Findings

POWV encephalitis is increasingly recognized in the northeastern U.S.

Expanding tick populations due to climate change are raising the risk of POWV transmission.

The case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing POWV encephalitis.

Abstract

Powassan virus (POWV) is a rare neuroinvasive flavivirus transmitted through the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis tick. Although infections are infrequent, they have become increasingly recognized in recent years, particularly in the northeastern United States. With the expanding geographic range of Ixodes ticks due to climate change, the risk of POWV transmission is rising, making awareness of the virus crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management. Preventive measures, such as avoiding tick exposure, using repellents, and performing thorough tick checks, are essential in reducing the risk of infection. Here, we present a case of POWV encephalitis in western Pennsylvania, highlighting some of the diagnostic challenges.

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