The CDC Says Minnesota Now Leads Nation in Cases of Rare and Deadly Tick Virus

We take our Great Dane, Moose, out to run in the woods almost daily, he lives for it. And every time we get home, we do the usual routine of a full-body tick check for people and the dog. We’ve gotten good at it, too. Still, even with bug spray, more often than not, we find a tiny little bugger crawling around, looking for a place to set up shop on our dog, and sometimes we even find one crawling on us humans!

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It’s a reality of life in Minnesota. Between the trails, woods, and lake country, we live in tick paradise. Most of us have learned to live with them, wearing long sleeves, bug spray, the obligatory “did you check for ticks” reminder after a hike, but it turns out there’s a lesser-known, potentially deadly tick-borne virus creeping into our region that you really don’t want to mess with.

According to the CDC, most cases of this dangerous virus pop up in the Northeast and Great Lakes areas, which just so happens to be right where we live, play, and camp. It’s still pretty rare, but Minnesota’s been seeing more and more cases in recent years, and the highest number of reported cases in the country in 2024.

The Highest Risk Areas in Minnesota For Tick-Borne Diseases

According to Minnesota Department of Health data from 2007 to 2022, nearly half of the state has counties flagged as "high risk" for tick-borne diseases.

That high-risk zone stretches across much of central, northern, and southeastern Minnesota, including popular outdoor hotspots like St. Louis County up north and Winona County down south. Even popular metro areas like Anoka and Washington counties are considered high risk.

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So, just because you’re not “up north” doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. If you’re outdoors between late spring and fall, ticks (and the diseases they can carry) aren’t far behind.

While Minnesota’s high-risk map highlights tick-borne illnesses like Lyme, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, there’s another, more dangerous threat that’s been creeping in quietly: The Powassan virus.

What Exactly is the Deadly Tickborne Powassan Virus?

According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is spread through the bite of an infected tick, usually the blacklegged tick, the same one responsible for spreading Lyme disease. Unlike Lyme, which takes at least 24 hours to transmit from tick to human, Powassan can transmit in as little as 15 minutes after an infected tick attaches to a person, and there’s currently no vaccine or cure.

The CDC says it will take about 1 week to 1 month to show symptoms after being infected, but many people won't show symptoms at all.

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Early symptoms can feel like your typical summer bug with a fever, headache, vomiting, fatigue, but things can turn serious fast. In some serious cases, the CDC says the virus causes swelling in the brain (encephalitis) or in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Severe cases can lead to confusion, seizures, difficulty speaking, and even death. 10 percent of people with severe Powassan cases die, according to the CDC. The good news is that the virus cannot be spread from person to person.

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How Many Cases of Powassan Virus in Minnesota?

Powassan virus might be rare, but it’s been showing up more often in Minnesota than anywhere else.

Back in 2011, the North Star State saw a peak of 11 reported cases. In 2022, there were 10. But last year, in 2024, Minnesota led the nation with 13 confirmed cases. Wisconsin was right behind with 12 reported cases last year.

The cases were spread across several counties in Minnesota, making it clear the virus is quietly gaining ground in places many of us consider backyard wilderness.

Here are the 2024 Powassan cases in Minnesota by county:

• St. Louis County: 3
• Ramsey County: 2
• Irtasca County: 2
• Cass County: 2
• Anoka County: 1
• Crow Wing County: 1
• Hennepin County: 1
• Lake County: 1

How to Avoid Disease from Tick Bites

The best defense is to try to avoid tick bites altogether. Stick to the center of trails. Wear light-colored clothing so you can spot any unwanted hitchhikers. Use a repellent that contains DEET or permethrin. And always, always do a full-body tick check after being outside, especially on kids and pets. You can get more detailed tick tips here.

If you do find a tick, don’t panic. Remove it carefully with tweezers and watch for symptoms over the next couple of weeks. If anything feels off, don’t wait; see your doctor.

Ticks are a part of Minnesota summers, but with a little extra caution, we can still enjoy the great outdoors without worry. Just remember: tiny tick, big potential consequences.