Pittsburgh Sees First PA Case Of Potentially Deadly Powassan Virus

PITTSBURGH, PA — This year's first Pennsylvania case of the potentially fatal Powassan virus has been diagnosed in the Pittsburgh area, the Allegheny County Health Department announced Tuesday.

Powassan virus is a tick-borne disease spread via a bite from an infected blacklegged tick, which also can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

The child who tested positive for Powassan lives in northern Allegheny County and had to be hospitalized after experiencing fever and other symptoms. The child is recovering at home, according to the health department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Powassan can cause fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness. Some people experience severe illness that can be fatal or cause long-term health problems.

There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no medicine to treat the disease.

Powassan virus is a rare condition, but reports of infections are increasing, mostly in the nation's Northeast and Great Lakes regions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the county health department Vector Control Program are collaborating on an enhanced tick surveillance plan for the area where the Pittsburgh-area case was identified.

The Powassan virus was identified in a small percentage of adult ticks from northern Allegheny County in 2021 and 2023.