BRUNSWICK, Maine — The first deadly case of Powassan virus in Maine this year is raising concerns among medical experts.
Back in June, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that an 81-year-old man from Sanford died from a tickborne illness that can cause encephalitis disease in humans.
Two other cases this year have been confirmed in Kennebec and Lincoln counties, but both people have recovered. Last year, there were seven confirmed cases reported, and one of those resulted in the death of a Topsham man.
The alarming trend could continue as tick exposure becomes more of a year-round problem.
The man's wife, Annemarie Weymouth, hasn't stopped speaking out.
"I tell them my story so they know it's not just Lyme disease out there," Annemarie said earnestly.
Her beloved husband of 23 years, Bobby Weymouth, died just days shy of his 59th birthday in May last year after exposure to the Powassan virus.
"He had rheumatoid arthritis, so that didn't give him a fighting chance against that tick," she explained.
Bobby's symptoms started with knee problems and swelling. Those symptoms got worse, including paralysis, neurological issues, and brain swelling. But by the time a spinal tap tested positive for Powassan, it was too late.
There is no medication to treat the virus.
Experts say everyone is at risk, especially those who are immunocompromised. One in every 10 cases are fatal, and half of the survivors experience permanent brain damage. While still scarce, public health officials say infections are on the rise.
Dr. Rob Smith is an infectious disease specialist and director of the MaineHealth Institute of Research Vector-Borne Disease Lab.
"We had been seeing one or two cases per year in Maine. Actually last year, though, [here in Maine, as well] as in Massachusetts, as in other states, there was a bump in the cases reported. We had seven last year," Smith said.
He said Powassan is challenging to diagnose and must be confirmed with testing that is not widely available. Some patients don't develop symptoms, while others can have flu-like issues similar to Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
But he said doctors in Maine are working to identify symptoms of Powassan better to try to catch it before it becomes more serious.
"It's on the radar of many more medical centers when they see someone with a serious neurological disease. They are more likely to send the tests off," Smith added.
Experts believe the virus is spread by deer ticks and, in sporadic cases, the woodchuck tick, which has been found in Maine.
Chuck Lubelczyk, a vector ecologist at the institute, leads a team of researchers tracking ticks throughout Maine. He said more ticks are migrating farther north and west because of climate change, putting more people at risk for rare tick-borne diseases. MHIR is conducting a study on Isle Au Haut to see if treating deer and mice with an anti-parasitic medication will help drop tick numbers.
"You can look at it as an alternative to treating your deer and mice in an area instead of spraying synthetic pesticides," Lubelczyk explained.
Bobby was a race car enthusiast who raced throughout New England. His former race car was on display at the New England Racing Museum of Racing in Louden, New Hampshire as part of an awareness campaign about Powassan. He was also recently honored at the Wiscasset Speedway, where he mentored young drivers. Annemarie never misses a chance to celebrate her husband but also to warn others.
"Not just Powassan but other tick-borne illnesses," she warned. "People are out there suffering for treatment, for understanding, that tick-borne illnesses are exploding."