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ORONO, Maine – Name it, scientists at the University of Maine are doing for Mainers.
Researchers at the UMaine Cooperative Extension accept tick submissions sent by people from all over the state. They then test these ticks to see if they carry disease.
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Researchers are monitoring where these ticks are located so that they can find "hot spots" and inform key residents of areas at risk.
Since April 1st, the cooperative has received about 1,500 ticks and tested about 900 ticks.
The results? About 45% of tested ticks carry a disease. And 40% of ticks affected have Lyme disease.
The researchers first take pictures of the ticks and then crush them into small pieces. These small pieces are used to test the tick's DNA to determine if it has been affected.
Until now, no new information has been found.
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"In a way, that confirms some things.You know, the infection rate has generally been estimated to be around 40% across the state," Griffin Dill said. Dill is the director of ticks of the cooperative extension.
Once the data is collected, researchers will map out "hot spots" – where more ticks are affected. In this way, the Mainers will know which are the most risky places in the state that they should perhaps try to avoid.
To send your tick for testing, visit the Tick a Tick page on the Cooperative Extensions website.
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