Maine CDC Issues Health Alert for Powassan Virus and West Nile Virus
The Maine CDC has issued this
Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory following the first detections of
Powassan virus (POW) and West Nile virus (WNV) in the state in 2025. A case of POW has been identified in a resident of Hancock County, and WNV has been detected in a bird in York County. This advisory is intended to alert healthcare providers to current arboviral activity in Maine and to remind clinicians to consider testing for mosquito- and tick-borne arboviruses in patients presenting with unexplained fever, meningitis, or encephalitis—especially those with recent outdoor exposure or travel to areas with known arboviral transmission.
This handout provides guidance on when and how to conduct arboviral testing.
Staff contact:
mcarland@mehca.org