Weeks After a Tick Bite: A Rare Virus Changed His Life
Sandego.net – Weeks after a tick bite, retired New Hampshire pharmacist John Reagan developed symptoms that initially looked like the flu. What began with headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea eventually became a medical emergency that left him unable to speak, move or open his eyes.
Reagan, 66, had removed a tiny tick shortly after returning home in early May. Living in Concord, New Hampshire, he knew about Lyme disease and believed he had acted quickly. He had recently retired and spent much of his time outdoors hunting, fishing and walking family dogs.
When he first sought emergency care in mid-May, doctors could not find a clear cause for his illness. He received fluids and medication for nausea and was sent home. But his condition rapidly worsened, and his wife feared he might be having a stroke.
A Difficult Diagnosis
After returning to the hospital, Reagan lost the ability to speak and move. Early tests did not explain what was happening. His family raised the possibility that the tick bite was connected, but that possibility initially seemed unlikely.
He was later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where clinicians broadened their investigation to include tickborne illnesses. A blood sample was sent to a specialized Mayo Clinic laboratory, and on June 9, his family learned he had Powassan virus disease.
Powassan virus can be transmitted by an infected tick in about 15 minutes, much faster than the transmission window commonly associated with Lyme disease. That short timeframe means prompt tick removal remains important, but it cannot eliminate every risk.
“Advocate for yourself or your loved ones if they’ve been bitten by a tick recently,” Reagan’s son, Jeff Reagan, said. “Because not all medical professionals are familiar with Powassan.”
Why Powassan Virus Is So Serious
There is no specific antiviral treatment for Powassan virus. Care focuses on supporting the patient, particularly when the infection affects the brain or nervous system. In Reagan’s case, brain swelling caused him to stop breathing, requiring a ventilator as well as breathing and feeding tubes.
He woke up after nearly a month in intensive care. His recovery followed weeks in which his family worried they might not get their father back.
Powassan virus disease is rare in the United States, with fewer than 100 diagnosed cases usually reported each year. Still, reported infections have risen as ticks capable of carrying the virus have expanded their range. In 2025, the United States recorded 76 human cases and 10 deaths.
About one in 10 people with the disease dies, and roughly half of survivors experience long-term neurological problems. The virus is carried by blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which can also spread Lyme disease.
For people who spend time outdoors in New Hampshire and elsewhere in the Northeast, a tick bite should not be viewed only through the lens of Lyme disease. New or worsening symptoms in the days or weeks after exposure deserve prompt medical attention.
FAQ: Tick Bite Concerns in New Hampshire
What symptoms should prompt medical care?
Seek medical advice for fever, severe headache, weakness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness or other new symptoms after a tick bite. Emergency care is especially important for trouble speaking, moving, breathing or staying awake.
Can removing a tick quickly prevent Powassan virus?
Removing a tick as soon as it is found is still a sensible precaution, but Powassan virus may be transmitted in roughly 15 minutes. Monitor your health after exposure, especially during tick season.
How can residents reduce tick exposure?
Use tick repellent, wear protective clothing in wooded or grassy areas, check your body and pets after being outdoors, and remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers. If illness develops weeks after a tick bite, tell a health professional about the exposure.
