The tick-borne Powassan virus – you don’t want it May 30, 2014geeky science & health stuff, HomeArboNET, arbovirus, blacklegged tick, CDC, CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, deerticks, Dr. Marc Fischer, Dr. Sheila Pinette, encephalitis, fatal disease, Lyme disease, Lyn Snow, Maine CDC, Maine Medical Center, permethrin, Powassan virus, prevention, public health, surveillance, ticks, University of Maine By Ned White No joke or food this week: the tick-borne Powassan virus may be around us, and it’s as bad as a virus can be. You don’t want it.