
Connecticut woman dies after being infected with tickborne Powassan virus
CBSN
A Connecticut woman has died after becoming infected with the tickborne Powassan virus, state health officials announced this week.
The state Department of Public Health reported that the woman, who was in her 90s, lived New London County and became sick in early May. She died May 17. She is the second person in Connecticut to test positive for the virus this year and the first to die.
"This incident reminds us that residents need to take actions to prevent tick bites now through the late fall," DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said Tuesday in a news release. "DPH stresses the use of insect repellent this summer and avoiding high-risk areas, such as tall grass, where ticks may be found. It's also important to check carefully for ticks after being outside which can reduce the chance of you and your family members being infected with this dangerous virus."

In the past year, over 135 million passengers traveled to the U.S. from other countries. To infectious disease experts, that represents 135 million chances for an outbreak to begin. To identify and stop the next potential pandemic, government disease detectives have been discreetly searching for viral pathogens in wastewater from airplanes. Experts are worried that these efforts may not be enough.