Rare tick-borne illness may have killed one N.J. man, sickened another, health officials say – NJ.com

Heath officials are investigating whether an extraordinarily rare tick-borne disease killed a Sussex County man who died after he stated he used to be bit by a tick while gardening, in step with a document from the Fresh Jersey Herald.

Two circumstances of the most incessantly-lethal Powassan virus had been confirmed in Fresh Jersey’s northernmost county earlier this week, state health officials stated. The disease, which is spread by ticks, has no identified medication.

Some of the affected of us — identified by the Fresh Jersey Herald as 80-one year-used Hampton resident Armand Desormeaux — died Can also 16 after he contracted the virus. The staunch motive leisurely his death is smooth being investigated and it is unclear if Powassan or one other health condition killed Desormeaux.

Dianne Rude, Desormeaux’s daughter, quick the Fresh Jersey Herald that her father used to be bit by a tick while gardening on April 15, nonetheless he didn’t relate exceptional of the chunk in consequence of no rash ever fashioned.

Desormeaux began working a fever a pair of weeks later and his health snappy deteriorated, his daughter quick the newspaper. He suffered from violent tremors and began to lose the exhaust of his limbs sooner than he died.

The 2d Powassan case in Sussex County entails an unidentified particular individual that’s at dwelling recuperating, in step with state Division of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner.

Powassan virus impacts the central apprehensive system and would possibly dwelling off swelling of the mind, in step with the Products and companies for Disease Withhold a watch on and Prevention.

Powassan virus would possibly moreover just moreover be transmitted to other folks by shadowy-legged ticks, on occasion called deer ticks. The virus is lethal for approximately 10% of of us who contract it. About half of survivors are left with eternal neurological issues, in conjunction with recurrent complications and memory loss.

There is are no vaccines or medications to contend with the virus, which used to be first identified in Powassan, Ontario, in 1958.

Leusner stated Fresh Jersey has had 10 confirmed circumstances of Powassan virus since 2013, in conjunction with the two most up-to-date circumstances. Powassan used to be first learned in Fresh Jersey in 2013, when the disease precipitated the death of a Warren County lady.

Michael Sol Warren would possibly moreover very correctly be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Be conscious him on Twitter @MSolDub. Salvage NJ.com on Fb.

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