A Massachusetts woman is sharing her family's experience after her granddaughter was diagnosed with Powassan virus after a tick bite, leading to long-term health challenges.

In June 2019, a 5-year-old girl was bitten by a tick, and she was later diagnosed with Powassan virus. Her grandmother, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the girl's privacy, shared the family's experience, emphasizing the severity of the virus and its impact on her granddaughter's life.

"I really hope people will take Powassan seriously," the grandmother said.

The girl's mother removed the tick without realizing the potential consequences.

"Mom took it off and didn't think a whole lot about it," the grandmother said. "About two weeks later, our granddaughter got very sick, and she ended up in the

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