Maine CDC confirms 1st case of Powassan virus in 2026

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 23, 2026

A Penobscot County resident has contracted a non-neuroinvasive case of Powassan virus, the first acquired in the state this year, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday. This tick-borne illness is considered far more severe than the similarly transmitted Lyme disease. It’s also easier to transmit, with transmission occurring in as little as 15 minutes after a bite from an infected tick.