After being bitten by a tick, Kevin Boyce was admitted to the hospital in April 2024 with a severe case of Powassan virus.

He passed away a few weeks after the illness damaged his brain.
His story is now being shared by his family to warn others about ticks.

One Massachusetts family is sharing their tragic story to alert others to a crippling tick-borne illness as the weather warms.

Kevin Boyce was unintentionally bitten by a tick in April 2024. He began to have flu-like symptoms, including headaches and vomiting, which quickly worsened. After collapsing in his home a few days later, the 62-year-old was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and placed in the intensive care unit. Kevin was found to have the Powassan virus, a rare and serious illness spread by ticks.

Although the Powassan virus is uncommon, cases have dramatically increased over the last ten years. Fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, disorientation, loss of coordination, trouble speaking, and seizures are some of the symptoms. Severe cases may result in spinal cord (myelitis) or brain (encephalitis) inflammation. According to Yale Medicine, roughly 10% of these advanced cases result in death.

Erin clarified that although Kevin received treatment in the intensive care unit, the illness ultimately caused significant brain damage to him.

“He had severe brain damage and his brain had exploded from the encephalitis,” she told CBS News. “It was terrible, but we had to let Kevin go because we knew what he would want.”

Kevin left behind a wife, two sons, and a granddaughter when he passed away a few weeks after being admitted to the hospital. According to Erin, she and her family are now hoping that by telling Kevin’s story, people will be more cautious.

“We simply want people to be aware of the signs of ticks and to be cautious of them, particularly if they have one on their body,” she stated.

Twelve of the 54 Powassan virus disease cases that were reported in the US in 2024 occurred in Massachusetts. The CDC states that there are no medications to treat POWV or vaccines to prevent it. Ticks can be avoided, though, by taking a few preventative steps.

The National Institutes of Health advises wearing clothing that covers your arms and legs, tucking your pants into your socks, or applying tape to clothing openings to reduce tick exposure. To determine whether you have a tick on you, dress in light-colored clothing. Because ticks prefer bushes and shrubs, stay in the middle of the trail when you’re in the woods. Apply a chemical repellent that contains picaridin, permethrin, or DEET.

Check for ticks on your children, pets, and yourself after you’ve come inside. If you do find one, remove it as quickly as you can with tweezers.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, POWV disease symptoms appear a week to a month after the tick bite, and the virus can spread as quickly as 15 minutes after the tick first attaches. To get rid of any last ticks, take a shower as soon as you can and wash your clothes in hot water.