After his “brain had blown up,” a man died from a tick-borne virus. His family is now cautioning others

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 house 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, an uncommon and serious illness spread by ticks.

Although the Powassan virus is uncommon, incidences have dramatically increased during the last ten years. Fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, disorientation, lack 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. “His brain had blown up so much, from the encephalitis, and he had really bad brain damage,” she stated to CBS News. “It was horrifying, but we knew what Kevin would want, so you know, we just had to let him go.”

Kevin left behind a wife, two boys, 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 hopeful that by telling Kevin’s experience, people would be more cautious. “We just want the public to know what to look for and be wary of ticks, especially if you have one on your body,” she stated.

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

The National Institutes of Health advises wearing clothes 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 locate one, remove it as soon as you can using tweezers.

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