Powassan virus

noun

Po·​was·​san virus pə-ˈwä-sən- 

variants or less commonly Powassan

1

: a flavivirus (Orthoflavivirus powassanense) that is transmitted to humans by infected ixodid ticks (especially deer ticks) and that causes a sometimes life-threatening illness

The first case, in 2008, involved a child with encephalitis who was found to be infected with the Powassan virus, an arbovirus that is related to West Nile virus.

—Bridget M. Kuehn

2

or Powassan disease or Powassan virus disease : the illness caused by the Powassan virus that is typically marked by fever, headache, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, seizures, and often encephalitis or meningitis but that may sometimes be asymptomatic

Note: Powassan virus was first reported in the Canadian municipality of Powassan, Ontario in 1958. The illness typically occurs in the northeastern U.S. and Great Lakes region.

Don't just worry about Lyme disease this summer—Powassan virus is also spread by ticks, and doctors say it could be much more dangerous.

—Charlotte Alter

Severe Powassan often needs hospitalization to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids or medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

—Nina Radcliff

… blacklegged ticks can also transmit anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

—Andy Ouriel

—abbreviation POW, POWV see also Powassan encephalitis

Examples of Powassan virus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Powassan virus is the exception, able to transmit in as little as 15 minutes, which is exactly why prevention is a more reliable strategy than trying to detect a bite after the fact. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026

Other Diseases Worth Knowing About Beyond Lyme, ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026

Powassan virus is the exception and can transmit in as little as 15 minutes. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026

The ticks were then tested for five human disease-causing pathogens including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan virus. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

after Powassan, town in Ontario, where an infection with the virus occurred in 1958

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Powassan virus

• adenovirus
• baculovirus
• coronavirus
• enterovirus
• poliovirus
• antivirus
• herpesvirus
• parvovirus
• reovirus
• retrovirus
• rhinovirus
• rotavirus

Medical Definition

Powassan virus

noun

Po·​was·​san virus pə-ˈwä-sən- 

variants also Powassan

1

: a flavivirus (Orthoflavivirus powassanense) that is transmitted to humans by infected ixodid ticks (especially deer ticks) and that causes a sometimes life-threatening illness

2

or Powassan disease or Powassan virus disease : the illness caused by the Powassan virus that is typically marked by fever, headache, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, seizures, and often encephalitis or meningitis but that may sometimes be asymptomatic

Note: Powassan virus was first reported in the Canadian municipality of Powassan, Ontario in 1958. The illness typically occurs in the northeastern U.S. and Great Lakes region.

—abbreviation POW, POWV see powassan encephalitis