In the United States, there are 2 types of Powassan virus, both linked to human disease: Lineage 1 Powassan virus: Associated with Ixodes cookei or Ixodes marxi ticks Lineage 2 Powassan virus (sometimes called deer tick virus): Associated with Ixodes scapularis ticks, the same tick that spreads Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis Lineage 2 Powassan virus infection is more likely than lineage 1 infection because I cookei ticks rarely bite people.