A Rare Tick-Borne Illness May Have Surfaced On Martha's Vineyard

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA — A "rare but serious" case of a tick-borne illness has potentially surfaced on Martha's Vineyard.

Public health officials are investigating preliminary results of a Powassan virus infection in a Martha’s Vineyard resident.

"The situation is being closely monitored by the island’s local boards of health and shared public health staff, including Public Health Nurse and Case Investigation Coordinator Betsy VanLandingham," officials said.

Aside from this pending investigation, there has been only one confirmed case of Powassan virus on the island in the past 20 years. Elsewhere in the state, three cases have been confirmed this year, the CDC said.

Powassan is a rare but potentially serious virus transmitted by the bite of infected deer ticks. Unlike other tick-borne pathogens, Powassan virus can be transmitted within 15 minutes of a tick bite, officials said.

There is no specific treatment, vaccine, or cure for Powassan virus disease. Severe cases can cause brain swelling (encephalitis), confusion, seizures, and long-term neurological complications.

"The virus is present every year in a small percentage of deer ticks; fortunately, severe disease remains very rare," said Tufts University professor Sam Telford, who has completed longstanding research on Martha’s Vineyard.

In collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program, directed by Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Dr. Telford’s lab has tested over 3,500 nymph deer ticks between 2021 and 2024.

"Between 1 and 2 [percent] of nymph deer ticks on Martha’s Vineyard are infected. This is a similar rate to that seen elsewhere in New England. This suggests that many people who are exposed may successfully fight off the virus without ever knowing they were infected," Telford said, in a statement provided by Barnstable County.

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