Dangerous tick-borne virus causes brain damage in vulnerable young patient

A 5-week-old baby in Boston is fighting for her life after a tick bite.

After returning from the walk, Sisco told WCVB Channel 5 Boston, "I found this tiny, tiny, tiny, the teeniest [tick] on her ankle."

"I picked it off, and like, a week later, she started getting a fever of 102."

In addition to the fever, the baby began to experience seizures, which led to her placement in the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit).

The Siscos shared in the GoFundMe that Lily "has suffered brain damage caused by an infection."

Health officials believe that Lily Sisco's illness may have been caused by Powassan virus, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick, according to a press release from the local health department.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical analyst, said the Powassan virus is transmitted much more quickly than Lyme disease, with an incubation period of one to four weeks.

While cases are rare, with just seven to eight diagnoses each year in the U.S., they have been on the uptick in recent years - primarily in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Three cases have been confirmed state-wide this year, per CDC data.

"The virus is present every year in a small percentage of deer ticks; fortunately, severe disease remains very rare," said Dr. Sam Telford, Tufts University professor with longstanding research on Martha's Vineyard, in the press release.

"This suggests that many people who are exposed may successfully fight off the virus without ever knowing they were infected," Telford said.

Nymph deer tick are most active on Martha's Vineyard from May through July, according to Patrick Roden-Reynolds, director of the Martha's Vineyard Tick Program.

These ticks are the main driver of not only Powassan virus, but also Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and borrelia miyamoto.

"Although nymph deer tick activity typically slows in August and September, adult deer ticks become active in the fall and remain so throughout the winter and early spring whenever temperatures exceed 40°," Roden-Reynolds added.

Initial symptoms of Powassan virus include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness, per the CDC, although some infected people may not get sick.

In these rare cases, those infected may experience difficulty speaking, confusion, loss of coordination and seizures, the health agency warned.

Many who experience severe disease suffer from long-term symptoms, including headaches, memory problems and a decline in muscle strength.

There is not a specific medication for Powassan virus, with treatment focused on managing symptoms and complications.

The most effective way to keep Powassan virus and other infectious diseases at bay is to prevent tick bites, experts agree.

"We also recommend making your yard less attractive to ticks by keeping grass short, and using gravel or wood chips to create a 'tick moat' between the edge of your property to discourage migration," he advised.