‘Still fighting daily’: Newborn receiving intensive care after tick bite on Martha’s Vineyard

Baby girl is at Mass General Bighgam tonight. Her family says she suffered brain damage from a tick bite. >> That's right. A tick the family says was carrying Pawasan virus. Live on scene outside of the hospital in Boston is Boston 25 News reporter Drew Kitus. And Drew, inside the child is getting around the clock care now. >> She is Mark. The newborn baby girl was flown here after her parents say they spotted a tick on her the size of a needle tip. Now, health officials are now waiting on final test results to confirm the Poasan diagnosis, a rare tick born disease that doesn't have any treatment. One-month-old Lily Cisco was flown to Mass General Bighgam in Boston after her symptoms progressed to seizures. Her parents believe what started as a fever came from a tick bite that happened along a bike path near their Martha's Vineyard home. Her mother wrote on Facebook, quote, "She is still fighting daily at MGH and continuing to leave the doctors speechless with her progress. Although the CDC, neurological doctors and nurses have no answers for long-term, we remain hopeful and extremely blessed that she is still alive today. >> Poassin virus doesn't have treatment available for it apart from supportive care. >> Dr. Jacob Lemieux is an infectious disease physician at Mass General Bighgam. He's not involved in Lily's intensive care. >> What's different about Poasan virus is that it can be transmitted relatively quickly. There are reports of um as little as 15 minutes. >> The CDC recorded 397 Pawasan cases nationwide between 2004 and 2024 with 50 deaths. So far this year, there have been 24 cases nationwide. Three of those recorded in Massachusetts. this has been a particularly severe tick season um in in the northeast. We also think that we're likely seeing just the tip of the iceberg with puasan virus that many patients are exposed to puasan virus and and don't become infected or uh become infected but develop mild symptoms. >> If Lily's case is confirmed by health officials, it would be the second known case on Martha's Vineyard in 20 years. Her mother warns, quote, "Please, please, please check yourselves, your children, and your pets." The Wasan virus can cause long-term neurological complications in severe cases. A GoFundMe page to help pay for Lily's medical bills has already raised more than $25,000 and counting. We're live outside Mass General Hospital. Drew Karas for your local station, Boston 25 News.