Maine Woman Details Husband's Death at 61 From Powassan Virus as State Logs 3 Cases
Updated
Updated · WMTW Portland · Jul 22
Maine Woman Details Husband's Death at 61 From Powassan Virus as State Logs 3 Cases
1 articles · Updated · WMTW Portland · Jul 22
Summary
Patti Grover said her husband Henry died on March 23, 2022, at age 61 after a rapid decline from the rare tick-borne Powassan virus, which doctors identified only after his death.
A severe headache, nausea and weakness sent Henry Grover to a Bangor hospital on March 4; he was later flown to Massachusetts General, where the infection left him unable to move, speak or see.
Grover said she shared the story to warn others after having to remove life support, as Maine reported a new Powassan case in the past week, bringing the state's 2026 total to three.
Powassan spreads through infected tick bites, can progress quickly to brain and spinal cord inflammation, and has no vaccine or specific treatment; CDC data show U.S. cases have been trending upward.