New Tick Illness - Powassan virus

[Silaria]

I just hope it doesn't morph into something that attacks our pets.

My concern is that dogs may already be able to catch it. Lyme effects human and animal alike. If this is similar enough to Lyme, it may be something that can infect our dogs. (Key word - may.)

I'll have to find Ann's initial posting about this to see if it has any additional information. Maybe one of the resident vets can also shed some light on the topic.


ETA: This is the link to the news story Ann posted in a different thread, http://www.wfsb.com/story/28764213/doctors-issue-warning-about-new-tick-virus-found-in-ct. It doesn't say much different than what's in the link I posted regarding symptoms

 

[trini]

So far there doesn't seem to be any literature that says dogs or other pets can get ill with this virus...at least I can't find any.

But, further reading has lead to the article linked below...which states that the virus was initially dx'd way back in 1958 in Ontario and was named after the town of Powassan where that case was located. We usually think of these problems starting in a warmer area and then slowly spreading north...but this started north. In the US there have been 50 reported cases in the last 10 years...most reported since 2010.

Here is a link to the entire article:

Powassan virus like West Nile but more severe - VIN