21 October 2017 – NYSDOH confirmed the human case of Powassan virus (POWV) last week and reported it to the Centers for Disease Control on Friday, October 20. This case in Dutchess is the 4th in NYS in 2017; the other three cases were in Saratoga County during the summer. The black legged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, that vector Lyme disease bacterium are also the vectors of POWV. In the Fall adult black legged ticks are looking for deer where they will mate and females will feed until they are ready to start producing thousands of eggs. They can as easily latch on to you. Remember it only takes 15 min after a POWV infected tick starts feeding or the virus to reach your circulation. Tick checks in the evening do not reduce transmission of POWV. Use protective clothing and repellants instead.