POW -- This is the acronym for the Powassan Virus that is transmitted by ticks which are mostly carried by deer. Do not be mistaken -- POW is very, very dangerous. Recently, I heard about this once believed rare virus on a news report and that the spread of the virus, by tick bites, is increasing. Worse, transmission is within the first 15 minutes of contact. On many occasions, headlines are alarming which, sometimes, is hyperbole, such as the first one by Worldnetdaily.com who writes:.

POW! The tick virus far deadlier than Lyme -- CDC warns of disease that kills 10%, permanently disables 50%

But here is the thing: though at first glance the headline appears sensationalized -- it really is not one you learn about this new threat. Forbes Magazine and NPR both have had recent articles on this disease, yet it seems that POW is not getting that much attention -- when, in fact, it should.

Beyond Lyme: New Tick-Borne Diseases On The Rise In U.S.

POW: Here Comes A Tick Disease That's Worse Than Lyme

I went to the Center for Disease Control which at first, seemed not to convey alarm to the Reader beginning with what I thought was a bland introduction stating that there were only 75 cases in the past ten years and that they mostly occurred in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. It is further defined, for clarity but does not have less of an impact on humans, as lineage 2 POW virus. But, then, the CDC in an understated manner reveals alarming information concluding that there are no vaccines or medications to treat or prevent POW virus infection.

Symptoms

Many people who become infected with Powassan (POW) virus do not develop any symptoms.
The incubation period (time from tick bite to onset of illness) ranges from about 1 week to 1 month.
POW virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, and seizures.
Approximately half of survivors have permanent neurological symptoms, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems.
Approximately 10% of POW virus encephalitis cases are fatal.
Persons with severe POW illnesses often need to be hospitalized. Treatment may include respiratory support, intravenous fluids, and medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

Let's read that again: Half of the survivors have permanent neurological symptoms?! I certainly do not want to have permanent memory loss and muscle wasting from a tick bite that can INFECT a person within 15 minutes with symptoms manifesting themselves within one week to one month!!

I do not understand why we are not doing more to curb the deer population in this country. Our urban sprawl has decimated predator wildlife areas, and as recently as five years ago, according to Field & Stream magazine, there was a White-Tail boom. In 2016, the magazine complains that buck harvesting was down by nearly 40 percent in some Midwest states, though the news was not all bad as the female deer population has increased.

Nonetheless, in my personal experience, I see more deer than ever before. I live in New York where much of the deer population have either maintained or increased. According to the Connecticut Department of Environment, because deer have a high reproductive potential and few natural predators, deer populations have the ability to increase rapidly. In the absence of significant mortality, deer populations can double in size in two years. Let us not forget the danger they pose to driving. It is a rare occurrence when I drive the Interstate and have not come across a roadkill scene at least once with the visible signs of blood on the highway and often the carcass of the deer on the shoulder. What we do not know is what happened to the driver.

Deer are pests whose population needs to be controlled in a more productive and innovative manner than simply hunting season. I wonder what new exotic diseases are coming our way, and why aren't there more people worried about these new infections that demand emergency care to reduce the swelling in your brain and that 50% of the people contracting the disease will face permanent neurological impairments.