A Penobscot County resident has contracted a non-neuroinvasive case of Powassan virus, the first acquired in the state this year, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

This tick-borne illness is considered far more severe than the similarly transmitted Lyme disease. It’s also easier to transmit, with transmission occurring in as little as 15 minutes after a bite from an infected tick, the CDC said.

The agency’s advisory urges clinicians to consider testing for Powassan infection in patients with unexplained fever, meningitis or encephalitis.

Powassan can present as either neuroinvasive, meaning the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier to infect the central nervous system, or non-neuroinvasive. The former is the most rare and severe, with 10% of those infected dying, the U.S. CDC said.

However, many of those infected with the virus never develop symptoms and patients with non-neuroinvasive cases who do develop flu-like symptoms are usually expected to make a full recovery.

Additionally, the chances of contracting the virus are rare, with Maine only having 41 cases since 2000. For those who do get it, there is no known cure and treatment is supportive.

Public health officials urge those who work or spend time outdoors to do daily tick checks on their bodies, to avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, wear long sleeves and pants, and use repellent.