What is Powassan? Things you need to know about the virus as cases increase [Video]

A town in Massachusetts is warning residents to take precautions after its first-ever case of Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease, was reported last week.

Health officials in Sharon, located about 25 miles outside of Boston, announced the confirmed case in a release on April 25 but did not provide information about the infected person or their condition.

Although cases of Powassan virus disease are still considered rare, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and other health agencies said the number of cases is increasing annually.

This is what health officials said you should know about the potentially fatal disease caused by the tick-borne virus:

What is Powassan?

Powassan virus (POW) is spread to humans from the bite of infected black-legged deer ticks. It can also come from woodchuck or groundhog ticks, but those cases are less common. The New York Department of Health said the virus is named after Powassan, Ontario, where it was first discovered in 1958.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, …