Maine Reports 3rd Powassan Case as 1st West Nile Positive Bird Appears
Updated
Updated · WABI · Jul 21
Maine Reports 3rd Powassan Case as 1st West Nile Positive Bird Appears
3 articles · Updated · WABI · Jul 21
Summary
A Lincoln County adult tested positive for Powassan virus last week, giving Maine its third confirmed human case of 2026 after earlier cases in York and Penobscot counties.
A wild bird in Cumberland County also tested positive last week for West Nile virus, marking Maine's first positive West Nile detection this year.
Powassan is a rare tick-borne virus that can reach the brain and spread in as little as 15 minutes after a bite from an infected deer tick or woodchuck tick.
About 10% of severe Powassan cases are fatal, and survivors can face recurring headaches, weakness and memory problems.
Maine recorded a record 7 Powassan cases in 2023, while the CDC says the U.S. typically sees about 20 to 50 cases a year.