(WJAR) — The Rhode Island Department of Health announced that a Newport County man was diagnosed with Powassan virus disease, a rare tick-borne illness.
According to health officials, the man is in his 70s and he began experiencing symptoms in late July.
This marks Rhode Island’s second case of Powassan in 2026 and the tenth case overall, RIDOH said.
“We all need to be thinking about tick prevention measures when outdoors,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin. “Repel and reduce your exposure to ticks, check your body for ticks, and be sure to remove ticks if you find one on yourself, a family member, or a pet. Ticks are tiny. You may not be able to feel them or spot them right away. The sooner you find and remove them, the better your chances are at preventing the serious health issues caused by illnesses like Powassan and Lyme Disease.”
According to officials, initial symptoms of Powassan include fever, headache, vomiting, and generalized weakness.
The disease can then progress to meningoencephalitis, which can include meningeal signs, altered mental status, seizures, aphasia and more, officials said.
RIDOH said there is no vaccine or treatment for Powassan.
To prevent tick-borne diseases, health officials said residents should avoid wooded areas with high grass and leaves, wear long sleeves and long pants when outside, use EPA-approved bug spray with DEET, and more.