Update on tickborne diseases

The deer tick can remain active in its adult stage from fall to spring as long as the temperature is above freezing. The tick will remain alive, but inactive when temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maine CDC saw increased numbers of tickborne disease reports in 2013, including multiple cases with onset of symptoms as late as December and the first documented case of Powassan encephalitis in the state since 2004. Providers should continue to consider tick borne illnesses, even during the winter months.

For more information, see the update from Dec. 18 at http://go.usa.gov/ZpAG 

Emerging Tick-borne Disease: Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a parasitic infection transmitted by deer ticks, the same tick that carries Lyme disease. Babesiosis is an emerging infection in Maine with 17 cases being reported between January and mid-August, compared to a total of 10 cases in 2012. Most infections occur in the summer and fall months, so the number of 2013 cases is expected to rise.

So far, cases have been reported this year in Cumberland, Knox, and York counties.

Common symptoms include: extreme fatigue, aches, fever, chills, sweating, dark urine, and possibly anemia. People with babesiosis may experience no symtpoms at all. Babesiosis is treatable, and people who are infected and do not have underlying conditions generally make a full recovery. 

If you are bitten by a tick:

• Remove the tick properly, ideally using tweezers or a tick spoon.
• Clean the area around the bite, and watch for symptoms for 30 days.
• Have your health care provider identify the tick and the engorgement level, or amount of time attached.  Tick identification is available through the Maine Medical Center Research Institute 
• Testing of the tick is not routinely recommended.

If babesiosis is suspected: Your health care provider should test you. If you have babesiosis, you should be treated with medicine for a week to 10 days.

Remember that there are other diseases carried by ticks in Maine, including anaplasmosis and Lyme disease. Symptoms of anaplasmosis include: fever, headache, malaise, and body aches.  The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of the tick bite within 3-30 days after being bitten.  Fever, joint and muscle pains may also occur.  People can get infected with anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and/or Lyme disease at the same time.

Last year, health care providers reported 52 cases of anaplasmosis in Maine, compared to 45 cases so far this year.  In 2012, providers reported 1,111 cases of Lyme disease in Maine, so far 489 cases have been reported in 2013.

Additional information:

• For more information on tick borne diseases, including babesiosis, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/index.shtml
• To order tick educational materials, go to:  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/order-form-wn.shtml

Lyme disease

May is also Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in Maine. Ticks are already out, and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase as the weather continues to get warmer. Anaplasma, Babesia, and other tickborne diseases are also increasing in Maine.


Maine CDC has issued a health alert (available at http://go.usa.gov/Tmkd) to provide general information regarding ticks and Lyme disease; remind providers to report cases of Lyme disease; provide resources on diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease; and remind providers about other tickborne diseases in Maine.

Information about Lyme Disease Awareness Month is available at http://go.usa.gov/yTS

For general information about Lyme disease, visit http://go.usa.gov/yTh

Tickborne diseases

Anaplasmosis, a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks, is an emerging infection in Maine. As of Aug. 8, 38 cases have been reported to Maine CDC from 8 counties (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Somerset and York). During 2011, a total of 26 cases were reported. Most infections occur during the summer and fall months, so the number of cases is expected to rise. For more information about anaplasmosis, see the health alert issued Aug. 9.
Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include babesiosis and Lyme disease. In 2011, providers reported 9 cases of babesiosis; 3 cases have been reported to date in 2012. In 2011, providers reported 1,006 cases of Lyme disease; 483 cases have been reported to date in 2012.

Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in Maine. Ticks are out and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase in the warm weather.

For general information about Lyme disease see the May 1 health alert issued by Maine CDC.

Lyme Disease Awareness Contests

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and Maine CDC is offering a series of events with a focus on prevention. This year’s theme is “Know ticks, no Lyme.”


Young people are at high risk of contracting Lyme disease, especially if they spend time outdoors. Maine CDC is proud to sponsor two awareness campaigns focusing on Lyme disease prevention messages. For kids in grades K-8 there is poster competition. The challenge is to design a fun and colorful poster demonstrating at least one of the four measures to help prevent Lyme disease. High school and college students are encouraged to participate in the audio contest to produce an audio clip that in 30 seconds or less, addresses one of four personal prevention measures for Lyme disease.

These contests represent opportunities to educate students on the importance of being tick free. You can check out educational materials and past poster winners on our website. Here you will also find the guidelines for both contests, in case you know a classroom that should get involved!

Lyme disease

Maine CDC held its second annual poster contest in conjunction with Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May. The winning posters by Jacob Carroll, Chloe Lawrence, Casey Pine, and Carrigan Eyrolles are now available at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/vector-borne/lyme/index.shtml

Posters represented at least one of four ways to prevent Lyme disease:

1. Wear protective clothing
2. Use insect repellent
3. Perform a daily tick check
4. Use caution in tick infested areas

Most people get Lyme disease between the months of May and August. The best way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses is to avoid contact with ticks – find out more steps you can take to avoid tick-borne diseases.

Maine Medical Center Research Institute, in partnership with Maine CDC, is expanding its efforts in northern and western Maine to track the spread of the ticks that may carry Lyme disease.

Summer health

Most people get Lyme disease between the months of May and August. The best way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses is to avoid contact with ticks:

· Wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Light colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.

· Tuck your pants into your socks and tuck your shirt into your pants.

· Use insect repellent (with DEET) on your skin and apply permethrin to your clothes.

· Check your clothing and skin carefully after being outdoors and remove ticks immediately.

· If bitten by a tick, wash area of bite thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to area of the bite.

· Mark on a calendar the date that you were bitten, and then watch for any changes in your health every day for the next month.

· Keep your lawn mowed, cut overgrown brush, and clear away leaf litter from your home.

· Inspect any pets daily and remove any ticks found.

Water, bugs, and the sun, are a few of the things kids experience more of in the summertime. See this US CDC feature on keeping kids safe and healthy this summer.

We’ve already experienced some severe weather. Know how to protect yourself in the event of thunderstorms and lightning. Power failures are common in severe summer storms. Check out this food safety video from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to make sure you keep food safe after a power failure.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has established important new rules about sunscreen labels to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

This Cornell University video has helpful information about safe grilling practices.