Lyme illness instances once more set a brand new report in Maine this yr, because the tick-borne sickness continues to unfold and intensify, particularly within the Midcoast and Down East areas.
Lyme charges in these areas are thrice increased than the statewide common and have roughly tripled over the previous decade.
The variety of Lyme infections statewide stood at 3,035 on Dec. 3. That exceeds the total for 2023, which was the best yr on report with 2,943 instances. More instances will probably be added to this yr’s complete within the last weeks of December, though Lyme instances are likely to decelerate within the winter months as ticks are much less lively.
Much of the rise in Lyme instances lately has come Knox, Lincoln, Hancock and Waldo counties, whereas the charges have elevated extra steadily within the southern and inside counties, in accordance with Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention information.
Scientists usually are not certain why Midcoast and Down East Maine have seen quickly rising charges of Lyme illness, which is brought on by a bacterial an infection from the chunk of a deer tick. Lyme is the commonest tick-borne sickness, though Maine has additionally skilled will increase in different tick-borne ailments, resembling anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
“The Midcoast has really become the epicenter of tick abundance,” mentioned Griffin Dill, built-in pest administration specialist on the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s tick lab. “We’ve seen a shift in the point of interest from Cumberland and York counties to the Midcoast vary, the place we’ve seen a drastic enhance in tick density and corresponding human infections. We’re seeing ticks transfer farther and farther Down East.”
Indeed, the statewide common of Lyme case charges elevated from 106 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 228.2 in 2024, barely greater than doubling. But many Midcoast counties have skilled a tripling of charges or extra.
Waldo County, as an example, had a charge of 125.5 Lyme instances per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014, and a charge of 579 in 2024. In 2023, the charges had been even increased, at 636.2. Knox went from 267.2 in 2014 to 675.3 in 2024.
And Washington County’s charge highlights the extent to which the vary of the deer tick has expanded Down East, going from a charge of 44 instances per 100,000 in 2014, lower than half the statewide common, to 292.6 in 2024, nicely above the state common.
Cumberland County, Maine’s most populous county, has skilled a way more gradual enhance in its charge, from 117.8 in 2014 to 124.6 in 2024. York County’s numbers have additionally elevated slowly, going from 135.5 in 2014 to 125.5 in 2024, with a charge of 152.7 in 2023.
Interior and western counties have seen substantial will increase as nicely, with Oxford County going from a charge of 75.1 in 2014 to 203.4 in 2024. Only Aroostook County has bucked the pattern, with charges remaining near zero for the whole 10-year interval.
Dill mentioned the spike within the Midcoast stays a thriller. Midcoast and Down East have coastal climates which might be hospitable to ticks, with moist, humid climate and winters that don’t get as chilly as the inside. But southern coastal Maine additionally has near-ideal habitat for ticks, and the area has not seen the identical explosion in instances over the previous 10-20 years.
“We don’t have a superb purpose,” Dill mentioned. “The Midcoast is ideal for tick proliferation, however why it’s instantly translating to those actually considerably increased case charges is a query that’s nonetheless making an attempt to be discovered.”
Dill mentioned it’s doable individuals in southern Maine have been taking tick precautions for the reason that Nineteen Eighties and Nineties and are higher at avoiding tick bites.
Morgan Porter, public well being educator on the Maine CDC, mentioned it’s unclear why the Midcoast is such a scorching spot for Lyme, however individuals who stay within the area could also be extra prone to be in wooded areas or different tick habitats in comparison with residents of southern Maine.
“We actually don’t have any slam dunk solutions on why that is taking place within the Midcoast and Down East,” Porter mentioned. “We do know that proper alongside the coast it’s a extra fixed gentle local weather, ideally suited from the angle of a tick.”
Overall, climate change is contributing to increases in deer tick populations and the tick’s ever-extending vary, Porter mentioned.
“We’ve had some actually gentle winters just lately,” Porter mentioned. “With temperatures typically hotter, that helps the ticks get a operating begin into spring.”
Lyme disease is a year-round threat and ticks can nonetheless be lively sufficient within the winter to unfold the illness.
“When we get a pleasant February thaw, the ticks come out and are on the lookout for a bunch,” Porter mentioned.
Dill mentioned prolonged heat climate in autumn can be seemingly a contributing to extra Lyme instances, as individuals are exterior extra within the fall whereas ticks are extra lively. The University of Maine is researching how local weather situations have an effect on tick survivability, and has arrange 15 websites throughout Maine to measure tick density, soil temperature, soil moisture, air humidity, wildlife presence and different elements.
Symptoms of Lyme illness embrace a rash, though not everybody who contracts Lyme will develop a rash. Other signs may embrace joint ache, achiness, headache, fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. A tick sometimes needs to be hooked up for greater than 24 hours earlier than transmitting Lyme illness, in accordance with the U.S. CDC.
Treatment is a course of antibiotics, nevertheless it’s necessary to diagnose instances as rapidly as doable.
Angéle Rice, of Bath, contracted Lyme illness a few years in the past, and he or she suffered from long-term symptoms. About 5% to 20% of Lyme cases can result in chronic symptoms that can last years. MaineWell being is collaborating in a nationwide research about continual Lyme.
Rice mentioned Mainers ought to understand they’re dwelling in “Tickville” and take precautions.
“If you reside in Maine you need to have it within the forefront of your mind that the ticks are right here year-round,” mentioned Rice, who was one of many leaders of the now-defunct Mid-Coast Lyme Disease Support and Education advocacy group.
To decrease publicity to ticks, put on lengthy sleeves and pants when mountaineering, use tick repellent, take away leaves and brush out of your property and watch out when dealing with wooden. Shower when getting back from prolonged time in tick habitat, and carry out frequent tick checks.
A Lyme vaccine is being developed – and is at the moment in late-stage medical trials – by Pfizer and Valneva. Approval by federal regulators will most likely take about two extra years, in accordance with information reviews.
