It may be late September, but ticks are still around, and the state is warning Mainers to protect yourself from bites.
According to the Maine CDC, the state sees an increase in adult deer tick activity in late September through November.
If you're spending time outside, be on alert. Deer ticks are often found in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas, which could include areas around your yard.
Deer ticks can carry the germs that cause tickborne diseases. In Maine, these include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, hard tick relapsing fever (Borrelia miyamotoi), and Powassan virus. These germs spread through the bite of an infected deer tick.
The Maine CDC says the state is on track to break records for some of these tickborne diseases. Already this year, the state is reporting:
- 1,977 cases of Lyme disease
- 677 cases of anaplasmosis
- 161 cases of babesiosis
- 10 cases of hard tick relapsing fever, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formerly identified as B. miyamotoi or B miyamotoi disease
- 4 cases of Powassan encephalitis
This is a record high for Powassan encephalitis cases. Maine is also on track to break records for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease cases this year.
The Maine CDC says the most reported symptom of Lyme disease in the state is a bullseye rash. Other symptoms of tickborne disease include body aches, chills, fevers, headache, and swollen lymph nodes.
If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to a health care provider.
To protect yourself, the Maine CDC recommends:
- Know when you are in tick habitat and use caution.
- Use an EPA-approved repellent like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Wear light-colored clothing that covers the arms and legs and tuck pants into socks.
- Perform tick checks daily and after any outdoor activity.
CLICK HERE for information about tickborne diseases.
CLICK HERE for frequently asked questions about ticks.