Maryland Reports First Travel-Related Death from Tick-Borne Virus

Maryland has reported its first travel-related death from Powassan, a rare tick-borne virus. The individual contracted the illness in Canada and later returned to Maryland. Powassan is spread through infected tick bites and is not transmissible between people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported an increase in cases in recent years, with a total of 28 confirmed cases in 2023 across nine states. Maryland's case is not yet included in the CDC data.