Powassan virus disease: Spread, prevention and risks
On this page
- How Powassan virus disease spreads
- Preventing Powassan virus disease
- Risks of Powassan virus disease
- Subscribe to the Zoonoses Bulletin
How Powassan virus spreads
Powassan virus disease is caused by the Powassan virus, which is spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), groundhog ticks and squirrel ticks.
Infected ticks can transmit Powassan virus in as little as 15 minutes. Only a very small number of ticks carry Powassan virus.
You may not notice a tick bite because ticks are tiny, and their bites are usually painless.
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Preventing Powassan virus disease
There's currently no vaccine to prevent Powassan virus disease.
The best way to protect yourself from Powassan virus disease is to prevent tick bites. Check your provincial and territorial public health authorities to find out where ticks are most likely to be found.
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Risks of Powassan virus disease
You may have a higher risk of Powassan virus disease infection if you:
- spend time outdoors in and near areas with trees, shrubs, tall grass or piles of leaves where ticks can be found
- disturb underground rodent and other mammal habitats
- have pets that go outdoors because they can carry ticks into your yard or home, which could increase your chance of a tick bite
- talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention for your pets
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Subscribe to the Zoonoses Bulletin
The Zoonoses Bulletin is an email subscription list that will provide you with regular updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada regarding our work on zoonoses. Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be spread between animals and people, including those that can be spread through the bite of a tick or mosquito.