By proclamation of the Governor, May is recognized statewide as Lyme Disease Awareness Month, because of the increased risk when immature ticks emerge in the springtime. But for those of you who read my column on a regular basis, it’s a weekly occurrence. While many people know something about Lyme, there are many common misconceptions. Did you know that ticks can carry more than one infectious bacterium at a time? Did you know that there are fifteen species of ticks in Maine and over 300 strains of tick-borne bacteria in the US and the most test administered in the primary care doctor's offices is only testing for one strain of one disease? Did you know that each disease has its own test and treatment protocol? It is our goal to raise awareness about the fastest growing vector-borne infectious disease, not only throughout the United States but right here in Maine.

Why are we choosing to be so vocal here within our community? Because Maine is an endemic state, rated in the top five as having the highest level of Lyme Disease in the US and that's data based solely on the cases that the Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) knows about. According to the Maine CDC, “Lyme Disease incidence has increased dramatically over the past two decades and is now the third most commonly reported infectious disease in Maine. The disease poses a health risk to all people in the state.” The Maine CDC Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program has made statewide data available through the portal assistance from the Environmental Public health Tracking Program: https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking/lyme-news

It's time to raise awareness, it's time to educate, it's time to advocate and it's time to step up and support those in need. And that starts with prevention.

Maine is a state with lots of outdoor activities. Through preventative education, we can continue to safely enjoy those outdoor activities without fear of contracting Lyme. Should we come into contact with a tick, we are armed with awareness for treatment options to combat the potential for tick-borne infection to disseminate. Ticks are a year-round problem, waiting for a host to come along to feed upon. They transport on our pets, on our outerwear, even through contact with tree and shrub branches. They crawl into places where we cannot see them until it’s too late. With education and the right amount of prevention, it makes it difficult for ticks to survive and therefore, unable to attach and transmit infections. There are lots of options available to suit your lifestyle. Some opt for harsh chemicals while others prefer a more natural approach. Harsh chemicals can be toxic to pets and children. Prevention is about layered security. Prevention starts with you ~ treat your skin, clothing, pets, homes and yards (for prevention recaps visit www.mldse.org).

Should you have a tick encounter, knowing the right steps to take, will not only inform you of what tick-borne disease you’ve possibly been exposed to but who to turn to for further diagnosis and treatment. Early detection avoids a lifetime of pain and suffering. Undiagnosed Lyme and tick-borne disease is far more prevalent that you realize and more debilitative that medical providers understand.

As long as the number of new cases are being reported, I will continue to sound like a broken record. I want people to have a solid understanding of how to protect themselves and their families and pets. I want people to know about resources available should they have a tick encounter and need to see a provider. Last night, I received a phone call from someone on their way to a Midcoast ER with an embedded tick. The ER provider threw away the tick so the patient didn’t even have the option to have the tick tested. Save that tick! The University of Maine Cooperative Extension tests all ticks for $15. https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/submit/ (Maine residents only) and you will know with a 98.99% accuracy of what, if anything, you’ve been exposed to.

NOTE: Medical providers and ERs do not have the equipment to test ticks. It has to be done by a tick lab, so do not let them throw away ticks that they remove from you.

A little prevention and a lot of education goes a long way towards your defense against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases that are so very prevalent right here in our community.

Paula is the president of the MLDSE, the co-chair of the Access to Care Services and Patient Support subcommittee of the federal HHS Tick-borne Disease Working Group, the Maine-partner of the national Lyme Disease Association, member of Maine’s CDC Vector-borne Workgroup and active in Maine’s Lyme legislation. You can reach her at paula@mldse.org or visit www.mldse.org