A Rare Virus That's Worse Than Lyme Disease Is Being Spread by Ticks.

A Rare Virus That's Worse Than Lyme Disease Is Being Spread by Ticks. According to Today.com ticks can spread a far deadlier disease-one that has no treatment and that disease is the Powassan virus, which is transmitted by deer ticks just like Lyme disease. The exposure time a tick needs is 15 minutes on your body to transmit the virus to you while Lyme disease needs a full 24 hours . The risk is highest during late spring, early summer, and mid-fall, with visible symptoms from a week to a month after being bitten. Ten percent of cases are fatal, and 50 percent of cases result in permanent neurological damage, because the virus causes inflammation in the brain. The symptoms of Powassan virus are fever, headache, loss of coordination, seizures and trouble speaking , and treatment protocol is to tackle symptoms while your immune system fights the virus.