New Hampshire Man Beats Rare Powassan Virus After Coma

John Reagan spent almost a month in a coma, unable to speak, move, or even open his eyes after pulling a tick off his skin during a May fishing trip. Today, the 66-year-old retired pharmacist from New Hampshire is walking and talking again, defying the odds after surviving Powassan virus.

Reagan thought he was safe when he removed the tiny tick almost immediately after his outdoor adventure. He knew about Lyme disease and understood that infected ticks need about 36 hours attached to transmit it.

But Powassan virus works differently. It can jump from tick to human in just 15 minutes.

A few weeks after the bite, Reagan developed what seemed like flu symptoms: headache, fever, nausea, and body aches. His local emergency room sent him home with fluids and anti-nausea medication after finding nothing alarming.

Then everything got worse. His wife thought he might be having a stroke as he lost the ability to speak and move.

At Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, doctors ran test after test. Reagan's family kept asking about the tick bite, but were initially told it wasn't related. Finally, a specialized lab at the Mayo Clinic confirmed what nobody expected: Powassan virus.

Brain swelling became so severe that Reagan stopped breathing. Doctors put him on a ventilator, inserted feeding and breathing tubes, and hoped his body could fight back. After nearly a month in the ICU, he woke up.

The Bright Side

Reagan's survival story comes at a critical time. In 2025, the United States saw 76 cases of Powassan virus, an all-time high. Ten people died from the infection.

But Reagan is beating the statistics. About half of Powassan survivors face long-term disabilities, and 1 in 10 cases are fatal. Since early July, he's been at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital working on walking, talking, and regaining his coordination.

His son Jeff says the emotions are returning, which doctors consider a promising sign of brain recovery. John is processing what happened to him, understanding how close he came to death, and showing the cognitive improvements that give his family hope.

The Reagan family is now on a mission. Because there's no specific treatment for Powassan virus, prevention is everything. They want people to know that ticks carry more than just Lyme disease, and that not all medical professionals are familiar with rarer tickborne illnesses.

Ticks are becoming more common across the United States, appearing in more places than ever before. About 90% of all insect-borne illnesses in America come from tick bites.

John Reagan is relearning how to walk and working on his depth perception and balance. Every step forward is a victory his family never takes for granted.