US Tick-Borne Illnesses Surge as Powassan Virus Cases Hit Record 76 in 2025
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 24
US Tick-Borne Illnesses Surge as Powassan Virus Cases Hit Record 76 in 2025
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 24
Summary
CDC data show 76 Americans were diagnosed with Powassan virus in 2025, the highest annual total on record, with most cases neuroinvasive and concentrated in New England and the Upper Midwest.
Powassan’s rise mirrors a broader tick-borne disease surge driven by booming deer populations, suburban sprawl and warmer winters; blacklegged ticks can transmit the virus in under 15 minutes.
The virus has become one of the deadliest tick-borne threats, killing 10% to 15% of symptomatic patients, while survivors of the encephalitis it causes are often left with lasting brain damage.
Lyme disease now infects an estimated nearly 500,000 Americans a year and strains the health system by up to $1 billion, while anaplasmosis, babesiosis and alpha-gal syndrome are also climbing.
Doctors and families say awareness still lags as ticks expand their range, leaving prevention, deer control efforts and a Lyme vaccine nearing market as the main defenses.
With a Lyme vaccine near, what is being done to fight the deadlier and incurable Powassan virus?
Beyond vaccines, did our suburban lifestyle create this deadly public health crisis?
Powassan Virus on the Rise: The Growing Threat of Severe Tick-Borne Illnesses in the US
Overview
The United States is facing a significant surge in tick-borne illnesses, with experts warning that this trend is unlikely to reverse soon. Emergency room visits for tick bites have sharply increased, especially in the Northeast, highlighting the growing threat from ticks and the serious diseases they transmit, such as Lyme disease and Powassan virus. Lyme disease remains the most common, with states like Wisconsin reporting tens of thousands of cases. In response, the CDC is enhancing surveillance and research, using electronic health records from high-incidence areas to better understand and address the impact of these illnesses on public health.