A Tickborne Illness That Can Be More Severe Than Lyme Disease Is On The Rise In Maine

We do our best to bring to you the best travel destinations found within our beautiful state, but other times, we come bearing bad news. Today is one of those times. There is a tickborne illness that is on the rise in Maine, and while we certainly don't like covering these pests, they are becoming more of a problem. It's important for locals and visitors alike to understand the risks of encountering them, what to do if you're bitten by a tick, and what preventative measures you can take to remain safe while enjoying Maine's unparalleled natural areas. Here's what you need to know about this potential threat.

Encountering ticks is nothing new if you like to explore the outdoors in Maine, but one particular tickborne illness has been on the rise lately, especially in New England.

The illness is called Babesiosis and it has been around since the late 1960s, but cases have been increasing recently. Deer ticks are typically the culprit, and once they bite you, there is a risk of contracting this illness.

Babesiosis is more severe than Lyme disease but has a few similarities.

Both Babesiosis and Lyme disease produce flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, nausea, and headaches, but Babesiosis has the potential to last longer than Lyme.

Worse yet, unlike the easily-identifiable bullseye bite mark that typically is found when contracting Lyme disease, Babesiosis is a lot harder to detect.

Sometimes, the only way to trace the disease is to run a blood test.

The problem has been hitting Maine particularly hard. Cases have grown 34-fold in Maine from 2011 to 2019.

That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind to protect yourself.

All of your typical tick precautions apply while trying to avoid this illness. Wear long pants, wear your socks over your pant legs, stay away from tall grass, wear tick repellent, and make sure to do a thorough tick check after being in the woods. Don't forget to check your pets too!

It certainly isn't the best news, but we still encourage you to get out and explore our beautiful state.

We are a resilient bunch in New England and ticks definitely are not new to us, so take the necessary precautions, but let's make the most of the outdoors whenever we can.

We wanted to make everyone aware that there is a tickborne illness on the rise in Maine, but just like a long cold winter, we will get through this issue too. We did it before and we can do it again, and again, and again, because just like winter, ticks are always going to be a part of our life in Maine.

For more information about Babesiosis, please visit the CDC website.

There is also another potential tick treat coming our way so be on the lookout for the Asian Longhorned Tick.