Hagan died of encephalitis, or brain inflammation, caused by Powassan virus, a rare virus spread from ticks to humans.

Hagan died of encephalitis, or brain inflammation, caused by Powassan virus, a rare virus spread from ticks to humans, her former Senate spokeswoman Sadie Weiner said.

Former U. S. Senator Kay Hagan passed away due to a rare tick-borne illness.

The funeral for former U.S. Senator Kay Hagan was held at First Presbyterian Church In Greensboro Sunday afternoon.

More than a thousand people filled Greensboro’s First Presbyterian Church to honor Hagan, who died last week at 66 after a three-year battle with encephalitis, caused by Powassan virus.

No further details were available Tuesday. Hagan died Monday after a three-year battle with encephalitis, caused by Powassan virus. She was North Carolina’s first Democratic female senator.