Powassan Survivor Martin Novar Loses Memory After Rare Virus Sickens 397 Americans in 20 Years
Updated
Updated · NJ.com · May 30
Powassan Survivor Martin Novar Loses Memory After Rare Virus Sickens 397 Americans in 20 Years
1 articles · Updated · NJ.com · May 30
65-year-old attorney Martin Novar is recovering after Powassan virus triggered encephalitis in November 2025, leaving him with major short-term memory loss and forcing him to give up his legal practice.
A spinal tap at NYU Langone found brain inflammation, and metagenomic testing two weeks later confirmed Powassan after doctors weighed causes including herpes, West Nile and autoimmune disease.
Powassan is a tick-borne virus with no vaccine or specific treatment; the CDC says about 10% of central nervous system cases are fatal and roughly half of survivors have lasting neurologic problems.
Only 397 U.S. cases were reported from 2004 to 2024, including 19 in New Jersey since 2013, but annual U.S. cases nearly tripled from 21 in 2020 to 60 in 2024.
Discharged on Feb. 13 after intensive care and rehab, Novar has progressed from a wheelchair to a cane and says he wants more people to know the virus exists.
His life was shattered by a rare tick virus. How many other cases are being missed by our health system?
As tick-borne viruses surge, why does a vaccine for the devastating Powassan virus remain so elusive?
A tick can now transmit a life-altering virus in minutes. Are our public health warnings keeping pace with this escalating threat?
Powassan Virus Cases Climb: The Human Toll and Public Health Response in America
Overview
In late 2025, Martin Novar, a 65-year-old attorney from New Jersey, became a powerful example of the devastating effects of Powassan virus. His illness began with mild, flu-like symptoms but quickly escalated to severe neurological problems, including confusion, memory loss, and trouble with basic thinking. Novar needed nearly two months in the hospital, much of it in intensive care, followed by months of rehabilitation. His case highlights how Powassan virus can cause rapid and life-changing damage to the brain, requiring extensive medical care and long-term support, and underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and prevention.