A New Hampshire man is battling a serious tick-borne virus that has left him in critical condition.<\/p>\n
According to friends and family, John Reagan, 66, is nonverbal after he was bitten by a tick while walking his dog.<\/p>\n
He was hospitalized in Boston, where his condition deteriorated quickly after he was admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he first went into the emergency room, he was sitting up and talking to me, and I was there with his wife,\u201d Regan\u2019s longtime friend Tom Wright told CBS News<\/a>. \u201cAnd the next day, we went to see him, and he was like nonverbal, and his muscles wouldn\u2019t move right.\u201d<\/p>\n Outdoorsman John Reagan has been rendered nonverbal after he was bitten by a tick while walking his dog. GoFundMe<\/p>\n Testing confirmed that Regan had contracted the Powassan virus.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the people I\u2019ve talked to have never even heard the word before,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n Indeed, Powassan is less common than other tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, but its effects are devastating, and cases are increasing. <\/p>\n Emergency room visits for tick bites jumped more than 25% nationwide in April compared to the same time last year, according to\u00a0CDC data<\/a>. <\/p>\n Last year, the CDC reported seven cases of Powassan, while a record-busting 39 cases were reported in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wright and other friends of Reagan are fundraising to help support his recovery and to raise awareness about the dangers of Powassan. <\/p>\n In a bit of good news, Regan reportedly opened his eyes earlier this week and is now breathing without assistance. <\/p>\n Powassan belongs to a group of viruses that can cause infection of the brain or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Tatiana Shepeleva \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n What is Powassan virus \u2014 and who is at risk?<\/p>\n Powassan<\/a> belongs to a group of viruses that can cause infection of the brain or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and is typically spread to humans after they\u2019re bitten by an infected woodchuck or deer tick.<\/p>\n Those who live or work near brushy or woody areas, or are avid outdoorsmen like Regan, are more likely to be exposed to potentially infected ticks.<\/p>\n Powassan is particularly worrisome because of the ease with which the illness spreads: A tick attached to a human needs 36 to 48 hours to transfer Lyme disease, but it can transfer the Powassan virus in just 15 minutes.<\/p>\n What are the symptoms of Powassan virus?<\/p>\n People with the Powassan virus don\u2019t always show symptoms. If they do, they can look like the flu, with fever, headache or vomiting. <\/p>\n Symptoms can appear one week to one month after the patient is bitten. Severe infections are characterized by a faster onset and more serious symptoms, including brain or spinal inflammation, confusion, seizures, tremors, difficulty speaking and issues with coordination.<\/p>\n Powassan is diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and tests of blood or cerebrospinal fluid that detect antibodies produced by the immune system against the virus.<\/p>\n An infected tick can transfer the Powassan virus in just 15 minutes. ondreicka \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n How deadly is Powassan \u2014 and how is it treated?<\/p>\n Because there\u2019s no cure for Powassan, nor a vaccine to prevent it, doctors prescribe rest, fluids and over-the-counter painkillers for most cases, which can last up to a month.<\/p>\n More serious cases like Regan\u2019s can require hospitalization for breathing support and to reduce brain swelling.<\/p>\n About 10% of people with severe Powassan die, while 60% have permanent disability, according to the CDC. <\/p>\n Survivors may have long-term health problems like headaches, memory problems, and a loss of muscle strength.<\/p>\n While anyone can develop serious complications from the Powassan virus, older adults, children and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.<\/p>\n Some health experts have noted that a warming climate helps spread Powassan and other tick-borne diseases, since milder winters and earlier springs create ideal conditions for warm-weather pests like ticks.<\/p>\n