It’s (nearly always) Tick Season
Ticks & Tickborne Diseases
While there’s much still to learn about ticks and the diseases they carry, we know enough to realize how dangerous they can be. In years gone by, winters were long enough and cold enough to keep tick populations down. But our warming climates allow ticks to survive the winters, and populations are booming.
Care is recommended at all times, but the summer months—specifically June, July and August, when poppy-seed-sized deer tick nymphs are most active—are especially dangerous. An undetected tick bite can result in Lyme Disease or other, even worse diseases. Some of these have effects that can stretch through a lifetime.
Please review the brief summaries gleaned from the Maine CDC and the Cleveland Clinic, offered here by PBRA Board Member-at-Large and long-time Corea by the Sea resident Mary Vauthy. What you learn could save your health.
Actual size of the Deer Tick:
Nymph - 1/32”-1/16”
Adult - 1/8”
Engorged - up to 1/2”
Know your Ticks
Adult Deer Ticks
The Deer Tick transmits Lyme disease in New England. Nymphal ticks, active from about May—July, are most responsible for human cases of Lyme disease. Adult ticks, also able to transmit infection, are active October—December and again from April—June.
The American Dog Tick does not transmit Lyme disease. It is found from April - August. Adults have white markings on their backs.
Although they can occur statewide, deer ticks are most abundant along the southern coast of Maine.
For more information: -Maine Medical Center Research Institute Vector-borne Disease Lab
http://www.mmcri.org/lyme/
lymehome.html
-Maine Center for Disease Con- trol and Prevention Lyme Disease Resource Center http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/lyme/lyme_1.htm
The Maine CDC reports that “Maine has high rates of tickborne disease. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis are the most commonly reported tickborne diseases in Maine.”
As of July 1st, 2024 Maine has recorded 976 cases of Lyme Disease, 391 of Anaplamosis and 39 of Babesiosis.
A recent article in the Bangor Daily News from July 11 states “Maine is in the peak season for young deer ticks and the diseases they transmit to people”.
“The past two years broke records for Lyme disease case numbers in Maine and saw rising rates in people older than 65.”
“Individual Lyme disease case numbers, not adjusted by population, are highest in York, Cumberland Knox and Hancock counties with between 100 and 110 cases each.”
“June and July are considered the highest-risk times for Lyme disease, when the deer ticks are in their young nymph stage, according to Maine Health’s Institute for Research About the size of poppy seed, the nymphs are harder to detect than the adult ticks that will drive case numbers up in the fall.”
What is Lyme Disease?
myclevelandclinic.org“Lyme Disease is an infection that happens when an infected tick bites a human. The condition can cause joint pain. Antibiotics treat Lyme Disease. Even after treatment, some symptoms may linger.”
“Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, borrelia burgdorferi, which you can get if an infected deer tick (also called black legged tick) bites you. Ordinary ‘wood ticks’ and ‘dog ticks’ don’t carry the infection”
“Lyme disease may evolve through phases (stages) which can overlap and cause symptoms that may involve the skin, joints, heart or nervous system.”
Symptoms of early Lyme disease include: “a reddish rash or skin lesion. The rash starts as a small red spot at the site of the tick bite anywhere form one week after to four weeks after the bite. The spot expands over a period of days or weeks, forming a circular, triangular or oval shaped rash. The Rash may look like a bull’s eye because it appears as a red ring that surrounds a clear center area. The rash can range in size from that of a dime to the entire width of a person’s back. As infection spreads, several rashes can appear different sites of your body. This early phase can also produce fever, headache, stiff neck, body and joint aches, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes.”
How is Lyme disease treated?
“Antibiotics, usually doxycycline or amoxicillin, are effective treatments for Lyme disease. How long your treatment lasts depends on the stage of infection. In general, it’s true that the sooner you’re treated, the quicker and more complete the recovery.”
What to do if a tick bites you…from Maine CDC
1. “Remove the tick as promptly as possible. Tweezers or tick spoons are the preferred method to remove ticks quickly and safely.”
2. “Identify the tick if possible. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers a free tick identification service.”
https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/tickid/
You can also send your tick that is ideally in a sealed zip locked bag with your completed submission form and $20 to:
Maine Extension Diagnostic & Research Lab
ATTN: Tick Lab
17 Goddfrey Drive
Orono, ME 04473-3692
3. “Monitor for symptoms for 30 days after a deer tick bite. Some of the symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, bulls eye rash and fever. Please seek treatment if you experience one or more of these symptoms.”
To prevent tick bites:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/disease/11586-lyme-disease
1. “Spray “your clothing with permethrin, an insecticide commonly found in lawn and garden stores. Insect repellents that contain a chemical called DEET can also be applied to clothing or directly onto your skin. Read the Labels carefully. Don’t overuse it Too much may be harmful. “
2. ”Minimize skin exposure to both ticks and insect repellents by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts that fit tightly at the ankles and wrists.”
3. “Wear a hat, tuck your pant legs into socks and wear shoes that leave no part of your feet exposed.”
4. “Wear light colored clothing to make it easier to detect ticks.”
5. “Walk in the center of trails to avoid picking up ticks from overhanging grass and brush.”
6. “After outdoor activities in an ‘at risk’ area, always do a tick check and then shower, scrubbing with a washcloth.”
7. “Get rid of any any ticks on your clothes by putting them in the dryer for 15 minutes. This will kill ticks attached to the clothes by drying them out.”
8. “Pets may bring ticks into your home. Discuss ways to prevent ticks on your pet with your veterinarian.”
Measure your Tick!
Most people see an expanding red rash more than 2 inches across at the site of the tick bite, which may occur within a few days or a few weeks.
Other symptoms may include:
fatigue
muscle and joint pain
headache
fever and chills
facial paralysis
These are some examples of what a rash from a deer tick might look like.
To Remove a Tick from Your Skin:
Grasp the tick close to your skin with tweezers; pull gently until the tick lets go.
DO NOT use Vaseline, alcohol or nail polish remover. These are not effective treatments.
If you remove an engorged deer tick from your body, please talk to your doctor immediately.
To protect pets, use repellents and acaricides. Consider a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs.