Two cases of a rare tick-borne illness have been confirmed in Maine.
The state's Center for Disease Control and Prevention said it was notified about the cases of Powassan Encephalitis.
The individuals, who were hospitalized in April, are both adults living in the MidCoast area; they have since been released from the hospital and are recovering.
Health officials say cases of Powassan, which is also known as the "deer tick virus," are rare. These cases mark the eighth and ninth such cases in Maine since 2000. However, one out of every 10 people who contract it may die, and half could be left with long-term struggles, according to NBC News.
Once a tick bites, health officials say there could be as little as 15 minutes for the virus to transmit. Symptoms, including fever, headache, vomiting and memory loss, can start anytime from a week to a month after the tick bite.
