What is the Powassan virus

Warm weather brings worries of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

But a lesser-known virus called Powassan — also spread by ticks — is making headlines.

The disease is very rare, but it can be life threatening.

The virus is named after Powassan, Ontario, where it was first discovered in 1958.

There have only been 75 cases of Powassan reported in the United States over the past 10 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most have occurred in the Great Lakes and Northeast region.

But because warm weather means more ticks, experts are predicting that the number of cases of tick-borne illnesses, including Powassan, will increase.

Here's what you need to know about the virus.

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