A Newport County man in his 70s has been diagnosed with Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday.
The man began experiencing symptoms in late July. It is the state’s second confirmed Powassan case in 2026 and the tenth since Rhode Island first reported the disease in 2016.
“We all need to be thinking about tick prevention measures when outdoors,” said Director of Health Dr. Jerry Larkin. “Repel and reduce your exposure to ticks, check your body for ticks, and be sure to remove ticks if you find one on yourself, a family member, or a pet. Ticks are tiny. You may not be able to feel them or spot them right away.”
Powassan is found mainly in the Northeast, the Great Lakes region and eastern Canada. Cases remain rare but have risen in recent years. More than 397 cases have been reported nationwide over the past decade, and 2025 set a record with 76 cases, including 27 across New England.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting and general weakness. The disease usually progresses to meningoencephalitis, which can involve altered mental status, seizures, difficulty speaking or understanding, muscle weakness or paralysis, and movement disorders. Severe cases often require hospitalization. There is no vaccine or treatment, so avoiding tick exposure is the only prevention.
The health department recommends staying out of wooded and brushy areas with high grass, walking in the center of trails, wearing long sleeves and light-colored clothing, tucking pants into socks, and using EPA-approved repellent with 20 to 30 percent DEET. Showering after being outdoors and doing a full-body tick check helps — paying attention to the ears, belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, the waistline and hair. Pets should be checked too.
To remove a tick, grasp it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pull straight up.
More information is at health.ri.gov/ticks.
