The Maine CDC reports that a man has died from the rare incurable Powassan brain virus transmitted from a tick bite.

Health officials believe a Maine man died from a rare brain infection he contracted from being bitten by a tick.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reported that the unnamed man cited the Powassan virus as the cause of death Wednesday.

The rare virus creates a dangerous brain virus for which there is no cure, vaccine, and known antiviral treatment.

Maine CDC experts warn state residents and visitors to be vigilant in areas where ticks may be present to avoid being bitten.

“Ticks are active and are now looking for a host to bite,” said Maine CDC Director Nirav D. Shah, as reported by WMTW.

“I urge people and visitors to Maine to take precautions to prevent tick bites.”

The virus is transmitted from animals to humans, usually through the bite of a tick or woodchuck.

It is named after the town of Powassan, Ontario, where it was discovered in a boy in 1958.

A person will usually feel symptoms of the virus a week to a month after the tick bite.

The Maine man is said to have experienced severe neurological symptoms as a result of his infection, which is one of the normal symptoms of the virus.

When he died, he was in hospital being treated for an infection.

Other common symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or memory loss.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that most people infected with the virus are asymptomatic.

The Maine CDC has reported 14 cases of the virus since 2010, with about 25 cases reported annually nationwide.

Maine CDC experts warn that anyone camping or hiking in a wooded or densely vegetated area must be sick of ticks.

People should avoid diving deep into the state and instead stick to established trails and roads.

A person should also make sure they are covered to avoid being bitten and use bug spray to repel any creatures.

If a person enters an area where there is a high risk of encountering ticks, they should regularly check themselves for bites, make sure to shower and wash themselves and their clothes thoroughly.

The Maine CDC reports that cases of Powassan virus are extremely rare, with only 25 cases a year nationwide.

In Maine, 14 cases have been reported in the last 12 years, although the prevalence of asymptomatic infections means that this figure is probably an underestimate.