Deadly Tick Disease

A record high infection rate of the rare but potentially fatal deer tick virus was recently discovered in Clearfield County Pa. - Sampling in Lawrence Township Recreational Park found deer tick virus - often referred to as DTV - in 23 out of 25 ticks tested - which is the highest positivity rate ever documented in one location - hotspots like this are becoming more common along with reported cases of the disease - for reasons not yet understood and while DTV is rare compared with Lyme disease it can be deadlier -

It is the only tick-born virus but a very bad one - DTV is a type of Powassan virus spread to humans by the bite of an infected tick. Transmission typically occurs quickly - within 15 minutes - and while not everyone becomes symptomatic those who do may feel like they are coming down with the flu -In severe cases life threatening encephalitis and meningitis may develop which so far has resulted in death for 12% of the people infected nationwide - survivors may suffer long term serious health problems -

Because it is a virus there is no treatment for DTV