Dr. Theodore Andreadis, head of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, shared that an untreatable tick-borne disease is emerging in some parts of southern Connecticut.

Andreadis shared that the Powassan virus has the symptoms similar to Lyme disease. Its symptoms include headache, nausea and fever. He affirmed if Powassan virus is contracted, there is no treatment for the condition and the disease sometimes can prove fatal.

For now, there have been no reported cases of human illnesses. But Andreadis has warned that people who go into wooded areas may contract the virus.

“These ticks will transmit this virus when they feed within a matter of hours, whereas with Lyme disease, for example, ticks generally have to feed up to two days before they’re capable of transmitting it”, affirmed Andreadis.

There can be instances where the virus does not exhibit any symptoms. In fact, it can infect the nervous system and cause encephalitis or meningitis. Andreadis affirmed that survivors can develop symptoms like muscle wasting and memory problems.

Testing has been done of ticks in Branford and Bridgeport and they have been tested positive for the virus, of which there is no cure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the infected ticks.

Over the past 10 years, around 60 cases of Powassan virus were reported in America. Majority of the cases have taken place in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. As said above, there is no specific treatment, but people who develop severe illness due to the virus need to be hospitalized in order to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids and medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

Scientists said that they will increase the level of surveillance in the affected areas, but they are also asking hikers and campers to protect themselves against ticks.