MAY 27, 2015
AUGUSTA, MAINE
The Natural Resources Council of Maine released a new report
that looked at how the changing climate is creating perfect conditions for
pests such as ticks.
"There are several ecological factors that have caused
the increase in deer tick abundance in the state of Maine, but a big piece of
that puzzle seems to do with climate change," said Susan Elias of the
Maine Medical Research Institute.
Elias said the warmer and wetter the climate is, the more
ticks there are.
"We have seen a steady increase in the number of ticks
in the state of Maine, starting in 1989, and we do have fluctuations from one
year to the next, but there is clearly an upward and sharp trend in the number
of deer ticks," Elias said.
Experts said that is a problem because ticks carry a number
of diseases, including Lyme disease.
"The concern is that certainly last year we had 1,400
cases of Lyme disease, as well as other co-infections, as we call them, and
some other tick-borne pathogens," said Jim Dill, of the University of
Maine Cooperative Extension.
Cheryl Farley has dealt with Lyme disease firsthand. She
said she first noticing the symptoms of the disease in 2010.
"So then I had aching elbows, joints and also weakening
in my arms so bad that I couldn't lift things or open a door at the grocery
store or whatever, just bizarre symptoms started happening," said Farley.
Farley said she is feeling better and wants to get the word
out about Lyme disease and how to prevent it.
Experts said the easiest way to prevent tick-borne diseases
is to make sure you check yourself every time you come in from the outdoors.