SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WSIL) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging residents to take precautions against tick bites after a state resident contracted Powassan, a tick-borne illness not previously detected in Illinois. The IDPH is investigating whether the exposure occurred in Illinois or another state.

“With warm weather still prevalent, tick-borne diseases remain a potential threat here in Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “It’s important for everyone to guard against tick bites and the serious illnesses they can cause. We urge everyone to ‘Fight the Bite’ by reducing opportunities for exposures and repelling tick bites by wearing preventive clothing. If you have been in a wooded or grassy area where ticks are common and you begin to show symptoms like fe

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