A female deer tick (left) and a nymph deer tick. | Courtesy of Griffin 
Dill, UMaine Cooperative Extension
/A female deer tick (left) and a nymph deer tick. (//Ixodes scapularis)
Courtesy of Griffin Dill, UMaine Cooperative Extension/


  Both the number of deer tick-borne pathogens and deer tick related
  diseases are increasing in Maine.

Here in Maine, 2016 was a dry year, generally not good for deer ticks to 
flourish, yet tick-borne diseases hit record numbers for last year 
according to the Maine CDC's year end report 
<http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=729149&an=1>.

  * Anaplasmosis - 372
  * Babesiosis - 83
  * Lyme - 1464

Now in Maine there's a fourth disease, /Powassan/, worse than Lyme, 
potentially lethal and can be much more quickly transmitted.

See last month's excellent Bangor Daily News article by Jackie Farwell, 
BDN Health Editor on /Powassan/
http://vitalsigns.bangordailynews.com/2017/04/26/home/tick-researchers-found-powassan-virus-in-these-maine-towns/

Scroll down in the article for the interactive map to access specific 
spatial datasets (hint - hover mouse over colored dots)


*Conclusion from the Maine Medical Center MOHF Final Report*

  * Powassan virus is present in Ixodes scapularis ticks in Maine,
    adding this virus to a list of pathogens carried by these ticks.
  * Powassan virus was found across southern Maine at several sites, but
    was not detected yet in northern or eastern Maine.
  * Unlike bacterial pathogens, where nymphal deer ticks are the primary
    public health concern, adult ticks may be as important as nymphs for
    the transmission of Powassan virus.



For more information, it's definitely worth looking at the University of 
Rhode Island's Center for Vector-Borne Disease website: 
http://www.tickencounter.org/

Spray your boots and clothing with /permethrin 
<http://www.tickencounter.org/PDF/Permethrin_FactSheet_TERC.pdf>/ 
repellent<http://www.tickencounter.org/PDF/Permethrin_FactSheet_TERC.pdf>
24 oz spray $15 @ Amazon 
<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ANQVYU?ref=emc_b_5_t>


-- 
Untitled Document <http://aerial.panocea.us/>
Mr. V. Kelly Bellis, ME PLS 2099 :: WQTS485
17 Union Street :: Ellsworth, ME 04605
http://aerial.panocea.us :: 1+ (207) 667-6912

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